The Big A

AUTISM.

It's a hot topic right now. 

It wasn't anything I was particularly concerned with fifteen years ago.  Even when I chose my profession, I didn't realize what a huge part of my life it would be.  I work with children who have autism.  I do not have a child with autism, but I care for children with autism.  I have been perplexed, challenged, and frustrated by this mysterious, complicated, wonderful disorder.  I am challenged to learn more and more.  As a former supervisor once told me,  "If you've seen one child with autism, you've seen one child with autism," for every child is unique and has his own special gifts and quirks. 

So, tonight on my mind are those parents who have just received a diagnosis for their child for the first time.  Below are some resources for parents or those interested.  Below that is a prayer I wrote years ago for those who work with children with special needs. 

-ASHA The American Speech Language Hearing Association has a great website with information for the public as well as links on the bottom of their page on autism.

-This is a good blog for children who are more than just picky eaters:  cheriandlaura.blogspot.com

-A parent recommended this book to me: 

Facing Autism: Giving Parents Reasons for Hope and Guidance for Help

by Lynn Hamilton

-If you search for my-child-has-just-been-diagnosed-with-autism-how-do-i-cope-with-this, you will find a good article on the Autism College website.  This is the only article I have read on this website, but I look forward to reading more.

-Let me know if you have any good resources for autism or working with children with special needs.  

 

A Prayer for Those who

Work with Children with

Special Needs

Inspired by Psalm 41

Lord, You are the Great

Deliverer and Protector.

You are a merciful

Sustainer and Restorer.

Your word says,

‘Blessed is he who has regard for the weak.’

Help me to always remember,

even amidst screams and crying,

these children are precious to You.

Deliverer me in times of trouble.

Protect me and these children.

Preserve their lives.

Bless them, sustain them, restore them.

Have mercy on me.

Guide me and give me love for them.

Raise me up.  Give me hope.

Help me serve with integrity.

Uphold me.

May your presence be with me.

AMEN

The Waiting is the Hardest Part

What are you waiting for?  

-a green light

-tickets 

-a spouse

-a child

-a house

-a raise

-recognition

-adventure

-the next big thing

 

Tom Petty's chorus has been playing in my mind for the last few days.  "You take it on faith...you take it to the heart...the waiting is the hardest part."  My very good friend had an experience last week which proved to be a lesson in waiting.  I was inspired that she was looking for those life lessons in the midst of the mundane of life, and I am grateful that she shared her words of wisdom with me.  She had looked forward to making a gourmet salad for lunch to take with her to a brown bag lecture.  She planned and shopped and looked forward to this lunch; however, she ran out of time to fix the lunch the night before.  Though she said it felt frivolous to be disappointed over a small detail, she could not help but feel let down.  A fellow employee asked her at work if she was going to get lunch from the gourmet lunch truck.  Suddenly, a ray of hope--yes, she had forgotten on Thursdays the gourmet lunch truck comes to offer scrumptious treats.  Her lunch ended up being better than what she had originally intended.  

Some thoughts on waiting:

-I love that song by Shane Bernard "Waiting Room."  You should listen to it.

-I heard recently on a radio show that single men trust God in the risk of rejection and single women trust God in the waiting.

-Sometimes I get sick of waiting.

-Waiting rooms at ERs are exciting places--in a nerve-wracking way.

-Many credible sources (heheh) agree that we spend 2 to 3 years of our lives waiting.  If that is so, then why not make the waiting enjoyable.  Smart phones have definitely helped in this process.

-"Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."  -Psalm 27: 14 (NIV)

-We should enjoy the journey as much as the destination.

-You've heard that good things come to those who wait.  The early bird catches the worm.  Well which is it?  I think it depends on what the subject is such as marriage or the day after Thanksgiving sale.

-"Yet those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength;
They will mount up with wings like eagles,
They will run and not get tired,
They will walk and not become weary."   -Psalm 40:31  (NASB)

How does my friend's anecdote about her lunch upgrade relate to the big picture of waiting in life?  She relayed to me that while you may be upset that you didn't get what you want, perhaps there is something better just around the corner, even better than you had imagined.  
Thanks RA!

FEAR be gone

Well, I wish there was a magic spray called "Fear be gone" that we could spray whenever pesky doubts and worries are swarming.  What can we do when fear is overwhelming and hindering us from progressing in our thoughts and our lives.  I admit that fear has bound me in my life in certain areas.  So one day I decided to look up verses on fear and pray them.  I haven't done that in awhile so perhaps I should dig them out and post them here.  I've included some of those verses below.  I once heard someone say there are around 365 verses in the Bible that tell us not to be afraid.  I don't know if that is true because I haven't taken the time to research that many.  If so, that would mean one for everyday of the year, leap year excluded (but we could find a verse to help calm our fears for that day).

What do I do when I am fearful, worried, anxious...?

*FEAR is False Evidences Appearing Real (I've heard this several times.)  Think to yourself, "Has what I am worried about happened?  Does it have credibility?"  Replace those false thoughts with true ones.

*Surround yourself with others who can help you combat those fears:  friends, your pastor, mentor, a doctor, or a Christian counselor.  I can recommend Christian counseling with the perspective that it can be a truly freeing experience!

*Recall those times when God has been faithful to answer prayers when you were fearful.

*Remind yourself if past circumstances have led to the fear (talking to myself here):  Just because those past situations were that way does not mean that all of those type situations or relationships will be that way.  That was vague and confusing, but I hope you can relate.

*Present your requests to God, lay down those fears at His feet.  Here are some verses you can pray.

Fear

What to Fear:

Deuteronomy 6:13-“Fear the Lord your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name.”

Deuteronomy 10:12-“And now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul,”

Deuteronomy 10:20-“Fear the Lord your God and serve him.  Hold fast to him and take your oaths in his name.”

Job 28:28-“And he said to man, ‘The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.’”

Psalm 25:12-“Who, then, is the man that fears the Lord?  He will instruct him in the way chosen for him.”

Psalm 111:10-“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;

all who follow his precepts have good understanding,

To him belongs eternal praise.”

Proverbs 8:13-“To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance,

evil behavior and perverse speech.”

Proverbs 9:10-“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”

Proverbs 10:27-“The fear of the Lord adds length to life, but the years of the wicked are cut short.”

Proverbs 14:27-“The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death.”

Proverbs 15:33-“The fear of the Lord teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honor.”

Proverbs 16:6-“Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the Lord a man avoids evil.”

Proverbs 19:23-“The fear of the Lord leads to life; Then one rests content, untouched by trouble.”

Isaiah 11:3- (Jesus)“and he will delight in the fear of the Lord, He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears.”

Luke 12:5-“But I will show you whom you should fear:  Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell.  Yes, I tell you, fear him.”

Philippians 2:12-“Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.”

Fear is:

Psalm 19:9-“The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever,

The ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether righteous.”

1 John 4:18-“There is no fear in love.  But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment.  The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”

What NOT to Fear:

Genesis 15:1b-“Do not be afraid, Abram.  I am your shield, your very great reward.”

Psalm 23:4-“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

Psalm 27:1-“The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?”

Psalm 91:5-“You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day.”

Proverbs 29:25-“Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.”

Isaiah 41:10-“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Let Your Light Shine

Light.  It's illuminating!  I'm so glad we can see the light.  In light of this subject,  I recently attended a Lantern Festival and enjoyed the romantic feast for the eyes.  I enjoy looking at all the different types of lanterns, chandeliers, and light fixtures on Pinterest.  I recently saw a light fixture that opens like a flower opening its petals to the sun when the light is turned on.  

I looked up how many idioms and phrases we use with the word light in it.  Let me shed some light on the subject:  there are over 48 (I stopped counting). I tried to spread the light idioms throughout this blog post to see if you could find them (there aren't 48 on here, maybe 8).   I heard a sermon once about light and was reminded that light is always stronger than the darkness.

Here are some illuminating truths about light.

Psalm 4: 6-"Let the light of your face shine upon us, O Lord."

Psalm 18: 28-"You, O Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light."

Psalm 19: 8-"The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes."

Psalm 27: 1-"The Lord is my light and my salvation--whom shall I fear?"

Psalm 36: 9-"For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light."

Psalm 43: 3-"Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me."

Psalm 139: 11, 12-"If I say, 'Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,' even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you."

Psalm 89: 15-"Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O Lord."

Psalm 119: 105-"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path."