I was blessed to have the oppturnity to teach with Sergio and Ashley in the montains at a youth retreat. This was the first time I would serve for three days and hours from home. I was excited and anxious all at the same time. I wasn’t sure what I would teach and how to approach a room full of teen girls in a manner that would keep them engaged. As I pondered I knew that I wanted the girls to be connected with me enough that would feel safe to relax and take me in as one of their own.
After prayer and a little research I came across some old journaling I had done years ago. I realized how much I enjoyed reading entries from the different chapters in my life. I smiled and even cried at some of the written goals I has set for myself and met. Some of these entries I couldn’t recall even writing. This is my handwriting so it had to of been me behind the pen. It was such a soothing moment when I realized that God guided me to my journals. I searched more and more and read more and more out of different journals and came across my first prayer journal.
Thanks God. This is one of the subjects He wanted me to teach the girls. He wanted me to share with them how vital a personal relationship with Christ is, how we need to communicate through prayer, and how we can implement a prayer journal. In teaching the girls I wanted them the know how journaling is not just a way to communicate but also a way to reflect. I shared how going back through our journals will help us see the answered prayers, even when the answer may have been no. How we can go back and look at the struggles we have overcame and see then ones that we still need to work on. How we can go back on a bad day and read about the days that we could clearly see Gods blessing to help us get on the track of counting blessings again. As Ashley and I stared to pass out supplies the girls quickly started to design and cerate their prayer journal. Their body language started to relax and this allowed God to guide them. I could sense they were already thinking of the first words they would write. My heart began to fill at the thought.
In taking the time to teach about comunitacaton and journaling it made me long to stay this connect to not only to my heavenly father but to these girls. In taking time to share my feelings I had when I read my journaling it made want to read more of my writing. To go back to revisit the victories and to regroup to conquer the struggles that are alive on the pages. The pages of communication with my Maker and friend.
Take the time to start your own prayer journal. It’s amazing what you can find out about yourself if you write it down. It is amazing the relationship you can grow with God if you write down your prayers. You can decorate it like we did at the youth retreat, or you can buy one and simply fill the pages with your words. We have even created a page you can print off as many times as you’d like to write on. Start off small, print off one page and write on it, see how you feel and then print off another and continue to write. Don’t forget that prayers are not always for asking, they can be for praising, or even just telling God what’s on your mind. Enter your e-mail address below to get the Prayer Journal print outs.
When serving others you gain so much. You dig into places you may not of ventured down in awhile. When opening up to others you see the deeper parts of yourself that perhaps you hadn’t seen for some time. Share ways that you serve others and how that helps you stay connected.
Keep Rolling On. Keep Writing On. Keep Praying On!
I started to feel that the everyday steps I make, in my life, are not made because of joy or passion anymore. My steps were not guided by love. Instead my steps were taken because of need and obligation and clouded by worldly things. Why do I need material stuff to make me feel whole? Are the idols I have put into my life consuming me? Have I traded what sustains me from the inside for what the world says I need to sustain me from the outside? Is this why we tend to live out of our means? Has this taken control of our lives to a point that we start to forget what is important?
God, family, and relationships are what should be important. They are at the core of what will give us joy, and what gives us the full sensation in our hearts. It is only found when God, family and our relationships are part of our lives. Without them we are lost and empty. We search for false idols to fill in the gap and the emptiness in our hearts.
It’s not hard to find, most times it’s right in front of us. But because we’re so busy with our lives we don’t make time to seek it out. We can’t take a minute out of our day to glance at our surrounding and see what we are missing. When the last time you enjoyed the beauty of a sunrise, or you offered a warm hug to someone, just because? God never wanted us to be empty or alone in this big world. That is why he made a man and a woman, as well as animals, and the earth to live on. That full sensation we feel in our hearts is his spirit living inside us. The Holy Spirit. We can easily forget that He’s waiting for the day when we open our eyes and heart.
If God were to come up to you in the streets and ask you, do you love me, how would you answer? Would you say. “Of course I love you God, I go to church every Sunday, I pray every night, and I tithe. Doesn’t those actions show you that I love you?
God would say “No this doesn’t show me you love me, it shows the world.” God wants a relationship with you. He wants you to lay down your life, and to follow what He has commanded, so He can fill the emptiness in your life.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believeth in him would not perish, but have everlasting life” John 3:16
“God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us then we do about ourselves” 1 John 3:20
This year I celebrated 20 years of marriage with my wife. We have created many memories together that show our love for each other. But there’s one memory that stands out to represent her love for me. One day out of the blue she asked me if there was anything she did that bothered me. I had to pause for a minute to make sure it wasn’t a trap. Once I knew it wasn’t a trap and she really wanted to know, I told her a few things that bothered me. Afterwards I felt obligated to ask if there was anything that bothered her about me. She handed me her list that was ten pages long, front to back.
I felt weird after telling her that there are things that bothered me about her, it’s not something I would normally share because I didn’t want to hurt her feelings. However, something amazing started to happen, she was trying to not do the things that bothered me anymore.
Why would she do this? It was because she loved me, loved me so much that she wanted to correct her actions. She was willing to change herself for me. When you love someone you change a few habits to show your love and that you’re committed to the relationship. I believe this is what God wants to see in us. Would you be willing to change your life because you know it bothered Him? Can you love Him with all of your heart? Could you give up the worldly stuff, addictions, and your pride?
“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” Matthew 16:26
We need to start living our lives, acting like God could walk up to us on the street at any time and ask us do you love me. We need to love our families in the same way. What a beautiful thing this would be for our children to see us love in this way. To see our children mimic how we love would be a start at changing the world. God wants us to be in relationship with each other. Let’s not let the world cloud our eyes with false joy and love that is found in possessions, status, or in any of the idols that we place in front of God’s love. His love is unconditional, unlimited, and complete.
“Your name is permanently engraved in the palms of his hands and no man shall pluck them out” Isaiah 49:16, John 10:28
Remember you can’t worship the Lord if you’re still in love with the world! Remember to Keep Rolling On
Impacting a life can happen with out you even knowing. In 2012 we were e-mailed this letter from a teacher, Michael, to 9 News nominating Sergio for the 9WhoCare Award. As a teacher Michael didn’t know how to help a student in a wheelchair and sought Sergio’s help. At the time Sergio didn’t realize he was making an impact on not only a student’s life as well as a teacher.
To Whom It May Concern: November 19, 2012
I write you today to tell you about a person who I feel is very much deserving of being a 9Who Cares winner. My name is Michael Dischner and I am currently a physical education and health teacher at Yuma Middle School in Yuma, Colorado. I teach grade levels 4-8 and have a student who is in the 6th grade who I had thought was confined to a wheel chair. My student has been confined to this wheel chair the entire time I have known him, but it does not discourage him or keep him from being your everyday 6th grader. After seeing how motivated he was and how willing he was to work, our school sought out help from an individual who was also confined to a wheel chair but has not let it slow him down either. That individual’s name is Sergio Sanchez and he truly deserves to be a 9Who Cares winner.
Sergio is currently a manager at a local farm store in Yuma. He also has quickly become a hero. Sergio takes time out of his day to come and work with the student in a wheelchair during his physical education class. Sergio has helped him to not be confined to his wheel chair and has helped teach him how to get in and out of his wheel chair on his own. Sergio has made a commitment that he has fulfilled without seeking any sort of compensation or praise. He now comes 3 times a week to help the student to help strengthen his upper body. Sergio has my student get out of his wheel chair and have him do sit-ups, push-ups, and dips. It is a fun sight to watch the two work together and see how my student has responded and excelled from seeing Sergio throughout each week.
As a staff we approached Sergio because he has been so successful despite his own disability. Sergio was shot in two separate shootings when he was younger. One of those shootings led him to being paralyzed from the waist down. As I have previously mentioned, he now manages a successful ranch store and raises his family of five. With his busy schedule he still finds time to come in.
The student’s lifestyle has completely changed since meeting Sergio. He now comes to physical education knowing that he is going to learn something new that he can apply to his everyday activities. As a physical educator, I did not know how to help him in a way that Sergio has. He has helped him realize that he can still be a part of everyday life and has helped teach him strategies to do so. He has volunteered all this time and he deserves to be recognized. Please consider Sergio Sanchez as a 9Who Cares winner.
Sergio didn’t win this award but he was touched that Michael nominated him. Sergio enjoys sharing his wheelchair knowledge with other’s and letting people know that a wheelchair cannot hold you back in life.
If you have a story to share e-mail thewheelsofgrace@gmail.com it may be featured on our blog!
Retreat. That is what was needed this weekend. I had one of those weeks that kept me tied down and unable to put any effort in my goals. Unable to stay caught up with life’s demands. I was tired and could not focus. Life was getting the best of me. My sleep pattern was off, my exercise patter was off, my eating habits were off. I was just off. So I did the best thing I could of done, I retreated.
The beautiful mountains of Colorado summoned me.
At first I had a hard time convincing myself to pack my bags and go. How could I leave so much undone? Leaving anything undone is something I cannot get myself to do often. Flowers in pots that needed planted, laundry that needed attention, a youth retreat to prepare for, a house that needed cleaned, and an extra day away from my job. I was starting to feel guilty for leaving. But I did what was the best for me, my family, and my co-workers.
As I sit here typing and admiring the view that God has created, I realize that he set this opportunity for me at just the right time. Had I decided to stay home I would of planted those flowers in a manner that lacked the joy I had when I purchased them. I would of stayed home to catch up on chores that would not of feed my soul like the mountain air is doing right now. Staying home I would have forced myself to prepare for a youth retreat when my mind was clouded not allowing my creative side to show. I would have not entered my job with the attitude that it deservers.
I urge you to retreat when your tank is low. Get away. Do this whenever you are feeling as if you cannot accomplish your goals with joy. Don’t force yourself if you do not have a deadline to meet. Push the list away and acknowledge that you need time to refuel your soul. Time to be in pure silence, time to regroup.
I will not always have the opportunity to retreat far from home and leaving my home may not even be an option at times. We can still find a way to retreat if only for a few minutes. Remove yourself from that place of discomfort and go to a different scenery. Close your eyes and take yourself to a place that brings you peace if that’s your only option. Do something to better your state of mind.
In time you begin to breathe better, to feel better. The clouds start to part from your mind . All the creativity and joy begin to peek through the clouds. You are able to return to your tasks with peace and grace.
Retreat: The act or process of moving back or away, especially from something hazardous, formidable, or unpleasant. A period of seclusion, retirement, or solitude.
Share with me how you were able to retreat when you need to refuel. Where are those places you go when you cannot venture too far?
June is the month we decided to push the button to start a blog, but even before June we took weeks to decide what our name was going to be. It took countless e-mails, lists, text messages, and arguments before we settled on The Wheels of Grace.
After knowing that The Wheels of Grace was our name we dove into learning how to build a blog. It took 4 months of learning and writing before we officially released it to the world.
I did what I do in any life situation ever, I bought a book. I read that book and read articles, watched videos, and I put all of my little soul into making a website.
I like to think of this as our pre-birthday. The time when we were conceived. The gestation period for our blog was 4 months and when September came we were born.
I can safely say that it is the most enjoyable thing that I have learned and the thing I have been most passionately driven to do.
I believe in the three of us more than I have believed in anything else in the world.
In September we will celebrate our birth and today we will celebrate our conception.
Here are the things I have learned.
1. Practice
1 year ago I knew nothing about blogging and only barely realized I wanted to be a writer. I now have a year of practice and I am better for it.
Any goal of yours can be completed with hard work.
2. I cannot learn it all immediately.
I immersed myself into learning and I learned a lot, but at times I tried to learn too, much too quickly. I read advice from other bloggers who were in a different blogging place than I was. It took this entire year to figure out what speed I could handle learning at. The beautiful part is that I still have so much to learn and learning is my favorite activity!
We are meant to learn every day for the rest of our lives, the learning process is never over. That fact should make us joyful.
3. I found who I am.
I started this project with the intent to help Norah and Sergio pursue their dreams but somewhere along the way I found out a few things about myself. I found that I love to write, which is something I used to hate doing. I found my long lost passion for photography, which I am still very much learning and would not call myself good at all. And I found a passion for wanting to design our website to be beautiful. I have designed our website several times and it is still not how I want it to look, but I have learned so much along the way.
Finding your own dreams often comes from helping others pursue their own.
4. The internet can teach you anything.
Most of my learning has come from Pinterest and Google Searching. If there is something I want to learn how to do there is someone in the world who knows how.
Community is the best way to learn.
5. Jut do it!
I still don’t think this blog is good enough for people to see, but how was I ever going to learn if I didn’t dive in a try.
It’s a question I often ask myself. Not that my self worth relies in how people see me but in how they see Him in me. I leave work, meetings, church, or social events hoping I have shown that God’s guidance has been whispering in my ear. In places where tension lives I wonder what others see in me? What lasting impression have I left?
I do not and will never know what every person sees in me when we have been in contact. I am certain that many have not seen Him in me and wonder when my horns will start to grow. At times I will forget to show God’s grace. This week I had the opportunity to hear from several people how they see something within me that they not only appreciate but do not understand. They wonder how I can handle myself with such compassion and passion. They ask how do I handle stressful situations with ease. The answer is that My Strength is in Him.
I end this week with a smile on my face because, I would consider this week to be weak in terms of growth for myself. This week has been a struggle! Accomplishing life’s many demands without feeling I was going to lose it was difficult. God showed me otherwise. For this week He said I got it right. At least for the ones that shared how they see this strength in me and how I touched them personally. For them I left a positive impression. I pray that I can continue this path next week.
Thank you for sharing how I have made your day better, for sharing your struggles and trusting me to pray for you. Thank you for sharing how you watch me in stressful situations and are amazed that I can keep a smile on my face. Thank you for going out of your way to encourage me by your willingness to share how I encourage you. This is what keeps me going, this is what drives me to work hard at whatever project I am currently working on. Giving you the glimpse of Him working in me and through me is my mission and purpose. I will not always get it right and I will stumble but if I can give you the desire to seek who drives me I have done what I was meant to do. For you to see Him even when you are not aware of it, is the greatest gift I can give.
Again I ask you, what do they see when they see you? What lasting impression do you leave? I hope that you simply leave grace.
