Christmas, memories, and reaching out to others

God’s healing touch during Christmas

Kathleen Maxwell-Rambie

copyright

December 2018

Most of us think of the holidays as a time of celebration, gatherings with friends and family, and pretty lights. For others, the holidays only remind them of what is NOT in their lives anymore. Grief often shows up unexpected during this season triggering the pain that might have remained hidden the rest of the year. Christmas is full of memories and those precious memories tend to come to mind during this season.

The good news is,  God is with us in our pain and heals. I speak from experience... 

The things I have learned from walking through grief have been some of the best teachers in my life.  Learning that no matter what I face, God holds my hand and is full of compassion, has given me great confidence and expanded my compassion for other people, which is priceless.

 God cares when our hearts hurt and wants to heal us. Psalms 34:17 states “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (NIV) 

It may not feel like God is close in our pain, but the truth is, He has never been closer. As I have experienced Him guiding me, encouraging me, and His kindness, it has made the above scripture very real. God relentlessly kept showing me He was right beside me. Too many times our feelings lie to us and in tough times, we feel like life is over, God has forsaken us, but we must believe the truth of God’s word and press through the feelings.

If you are brokenhearted over losing a loved one, recently divorced, or have experienced another loss, let me encourage you to ask God to open your eyes to see His nearness and to encourage your heart. I have done that and it works! You are precious to Him and He cares that your heart hurts.

Six years ago, I lost of both of my parents before and right after the holidays. I was not looking forward to the  first holiday without them, as they had been with me for over 50 years. As I approached the holiday, instead of focusing on missing them, I began to wonder, what adventure would God had ahead for me.

 God is always good and I’ve learned from losing my late husband, that when facing something new and different without a loved one, I could  find comfort and joy, looking for the adventure and God’s goodness.

 Needless to say, it was different the first year without them, as I spent the holiday in Alpine Texas with my new husband on a 40,000 acre ranch, mule deer hunting and helping him with his hunting business, a side business he has done for years. The beauty and majesty of the area was breath taking and I missed a 10 point buck...I’ll get him one day! My dad loved west Texas and it will always remind me of him. Enjoying something he loved so much brought me a smile. I’ve found joy in the differentness and enjoyed the challenge.

Christmas can be challenging for those suffering from grief as it brings up so many memories. Often times, these are memories of the good times we have shared with those we love. These memories bring the reality of our loss to the forefront of our minds. 

 You may not be grieving this Christmas season, but God may want to use you to be His arms of compassion and love. Often people that are grieving just need people to affirm their pain and loss and encourage them. Life isn’t the same without those that have been a huge part of our lives. It is challenging to go on without them. They may have lost a mother, father, child, brother etc. Love and compassion will always win and bring healing. Love never fails.

 Sometimes, someone else's  arms  and kind words mean the world to a grieving person. Just to know that someone cares that their heart hurts, means the world to those that have loved and lost. I encourage you to give those who have lost a love one, a hug. 

The Holy Spirit is the best comforter, however, let me encourage you to ask God how He might want to use you to be a gift to someone hurting this season. There are several widows I have called frequently this holiday season. Just to know someone is thinking about them and  cares that their heart is struggling brings comfort. Being sensitive to others helps us be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and vice versa. 

Isaiah 9:6 says, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” 

God may want to use you to bring His peace to those who need compassion this holiday season. Let me encourage you to be sensitive to those around you.

Psalm 147:3 says “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Hang on to the promises and enjoy the new adventures that await you. And don’t forget to look for people to bless with a hug.

Kathleen Maxwell-Rambie is a native to the Texas Hill Country, a writer and speaker. She is passionate about helping people discover their value and worth and God’s love. Beginning January 22, 2019, at 6:30, she will be leading a Bible study at The Kroc center called, The Gathering-Bringing God into everyday life. You can reach her at kathleenmaxwell1@gmail.com or visit her blog at www.theMaxwellminutes.blogspot.com

Trusting God in the desert

Trusting God in the desert

Kathleen Maxwell-Rambie

November 2018

Sitting on the front of the suburban in a quail hunting seat, driving through acres of the west Texas desert in Alpine, I had many different  thoughts that ran through my head. I was eager to jump off the seat and run chasing quail. I love the sport of quail hunting and they are great to eat. I was also how thankful I was for the opportunity to hunt with my husband, son, granddaughter, Collins and my step son and his wife.

The sun was shining bright and a cold wind was blowing viscously, leaving  a layer of dust over everything. This desert would not be an easy place to live and I was thankful that I was born in this century,  and not in the pioneer days of riding in a wagon. 

As I road, I began to thank God for blessings I saw in my life and pray about several difficult situations that were on my heart. I also prayed for  people I knew were struggling this holiday season. Giving thanks always puts our heart in a good place and can open our hearts to hear God. 

My oldest son Austin

About that time, a covey of quail ran  to the right of us, and I bolted out of the seat to go after them. Although I went as fast as I could up the rocky hill, and fired several shots, the quail were fast and won that round…

As I walked back to the suburban, I continued talking to God. A strong gust of wind blew and the tall grass around me,  laid down from the force of the gust. I could not see the wind, but I could see evidence of it and feel it. 

I felt God speak to me in that moment, saying, “Kathleen, I am working in ways in your life that you cannot see. Trust me.” 

Thanksgiving Day with Barrett and Aimee Rambie

I stood still, took a deep breathe and let the words sink into my heart. I could feel God’s presence surround me and His peace in the middle of the desert. Although the things I was praying are not what I would consider crisis level, nor do I feel like I’m currently in a desert in my life, it was a precious moment I wanted to savor.

Isaiah 43:18 states, “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.” (NIV) 

I am sure Mary, the mother of Jesus, had to wonder about having a baby in a stable. I am not sure any woman would want to give birth in that atmosphere but Mary trusted God. It was in that tough or desert place, the Savior was born. God was weaving a beautiful story that would forever change the lives of many, as one woman simply trusted God. 

Miss Collins, my oldest grand daughter

Often times we can miss what God is doing and think He does not care or is not with us, when in fact, He is very busy working on our behalf. We must trust God’s great love for us and trust that He is working, even when we cannot see it or feel it.

I frequently ask God to open my eyes to see things from His perspective, and reveal truth to me. All of us need God’s help, perspective, truth and we should always be teachable and seek Him.

Psalms 63:1 says, “O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you in a dry and weary land, where there is no water.” 

Are you seeking God in your personal wilderness or hard place? Finances, difficulty with a teenager or loved one, conflict at work, tension at home, sickness? Any of these things can make us feel like we are in a dry place. 

Often times, we can miss what God is doing and think He does not care or is not with us, when in fact, He is very busy working on our behalf. We can miss the majesty in our desert and hard times,  if we are not careful. Leaning on God and drawing close to Him changes us and brings out our beauty. I have discovered that some situations are more about changing us, than our difficulty. 

Psalms 107:35 tells us, “He turned a desert into pools of water and the parched ground into flowing springs.” That is a powerful promise to hang on to this holiday season.

At the end of my day hunting quail over the rocky and dusty desert, I was tired, covered in dust and yet my heart was full. I enjoyed teaching my five year old grand daughter how to open and close gates on the ranch, showing her javelina and antelope, teaching her the names of the surrounding mountains and how to quail hunt. Even though this was not the best hunt I’ve had, I got a few birds, found adventure in the parched land, enjoyed time with family, my husband and God. 

teaching Collins to open gates

As our time in Alpine continued, I saw evidence that God was working in the areas I had been praying about, just like I saw the evidence of the wind blowing. Walking with Him in the desert is the best way to travel.

What is your desert right now? What area of your life do you need to trust God to make a stream in your desert? I challenge you to pour out your heart to Him, seek Him, and let God lead you through your wilderness. Keep trusting that God loves you dearly and is working in ways you may not be able to see.

101,103

Kathleen Maxwell-Rambie is a native to the Texas Hill Country, a writer and speaker. She is passionate about helping people discover their value and worth and God’s love, You can reach her at kathleenmaxwell1@gmail.com or visit her blog at www.themaxwellminutes.blogspot.com