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“It helps me so much to know that even when I don’t have plans for myself, I can trust God has plans for me. Even when I don’t have hope, he has hope for me. And even when I don’t see a future for myself, He does. I just have to have faith.”      

 -- Life In Spite of Me, Kristen Jane Anderson

When you are hurting, sometimes all you can see is hurt. Pain sometimes throws reason and logic out the window. When life gets stormy or throws a curve ball it can completely mess up your plans. In the middle of your darkest hour God is there. When your plans have been dismantled or obliterated, it is not over. There is hope. I’ve seen God bring beauty out of ashes. I’ve seen Him rebuild and restore. Believe. God will never leave you broken. Trust Him. 

All you feel is pain.

All you see is hurt.

All you want is relief.

But all you hear is the sting.

Don’t give up..

Don’t lose faith

Don’t give in.

Look to Him.

THis is not the end.

THis is not over.

God can use this,.

You can overcome it.

You can rise.

You can find the strength,

Through Him to fight.

He can restore.

You can rebuild.

His love can make you whole.

Your story can be told,

TO help other hurting souls.

–Helmschick 

Proverbs 3:5

Joy is a light that shines from the inside out.
I have joy because I am redeemed,
I have joy because I have been set free,
I have been delivered,
I have been healed,
I am saved.

I have joy,
Not because life is easy.
I have had heartache.
I have known pain.
I have experienced the storms of life.
I have been knocked down.
I have been broken.

I have joy because I am loved.
I have joy because I once was lost,
but now am found.
I have joy because my tears were wiped away.
I have joy because He is the same yesterday, tomorrow, today.

I have joy because I choose life, love, hope, and victory.
Joy despite my circumstances.
I have joy because I choose the Lord.

–helmschick

Yesterday at work a sweet elderly man, that I’ve never seen before came in the store and we exchanged a few kind and witty sentences. When he went to leave he said to me, You know, I pray the Lord blesses you in a big way! Well this morning my hubby and I received an unexpected blessing. God WoWed me yet again and this is what it all inspired.

Unexpected blessings,
Entertaining Angels,
Listening intently
Following where He leads.

Soaking in the sunshine,
Enjoying the simple things,
Knowing that He hears me
And He knows my every need.

His love makes me feel special
And necessary
Vital to His plan
And that I can, do anything
Through Him who gives me strength.

Today was not my best day. Today was not my worst day either. Today was difficult and I felt a bit defeated. However, I persevered and got by with a little help from my biggest fans. (My awesome family) Husband, munchkins, and furbabies all pitched in to help brighten my cloudy day and I was reminded of an old song. Back, way back when I was in youth group, we sang a song called, On a Day Like This. The words went like this…

On a day like this,

On a day like this,

On a day like this,

I NEED the LORD to help me.

It went along with a series of sound effects and silly motions that we made up, but being the cheesy person I am.. I loved it. Now, I don’t know about you, but I personally need the Lord to help me everyday. But, I especially need His help on rough days to keep me from kicking myself while I’m down.

My hubby told me he was proud of me. He told me I did my best given my circumstances. I love him for that. At least once a month it is stinking hard to be a woman, but I am glad the Lord helps me. I am blessed that He gave me a family that helps me, too. Praise God for sunshine and sonshine on cloudy days. 

Peace, Love, & I need the Lord to help me!

helmschick –out

It’s been a while. Quite a while. A lot of things  have changed. We moved this year, after staying put for seven years. We moved to be closer to family and it has been a blessing. I think we were ready for a new adventure. It was time.

Time is an interesting thing isn’t it. There is a time for everything.Time keeps on ticking. Time stops for no one right? (Yoda voice) Commodity, time is not..Yesss.  And funny enough time is one of the best things you can give someone. Time gets away from us. Too bad we can’t be in two places at once. We work overtime. We don’t have enough time. It is time to do this and time to do that. Time is on our side? I think not. Time keeps on and we try to keep up the pace. What do you put your time into? Who do you give your time to? What time is it for you?

Don’t underestimate the value of time. Time is important. Time, thank God, is like the seasons, always changing. So if things are dim, be encouraged. For us a time to move was exciting and unexpected. We’d thought about doing it before, but realized the timing wasn’t right. This time it came as a surprise and everything fell into place. Sometimes we just have to grow our patience and faith.(Patience and faith take time. Once again revealing it’s really not about time and it passing, but what YOU do with it!) What you do with your time matters.

– helmschick

Ecclesiastes 3:1 “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.”

I love books. I am so thankful for books. There is so much wisdom in books. I love how a book can take you deep into the heart of a character, person, and a story or someone’s life. We can learn what makes someone tick, what stirs inspiration, what pulls on their heart strings, and what gives them hope. We cry, we laugh, we struggle along with them and even more so when we can relate to their traumas, heartaches, and motivations.

I read both fiction and non-fiction, though I’m more of a non-fiction reader. I like true stories. I think it is interesting to read about others’ lives, how they overcome obstacles and survive the best and worst of times. I think it is very courageous to tell your story. It can help others to know they are not alone in their struggles and pain. I love it when lives are transformed, hope is restored, love prevails, and beauty emerges from pain.

God has used many books to mold and shape me. Power of a Praying Wife helped me see what it meant to be a Godly wife. Captivating helped me realize I wasn’t too much or not enough. Purpose Driven helped me realize What on Earth I am here for. C.S. Lewis’s book, A Grief Observed showed me that grief isn’t ordered. It is messy. It is heart wrenching. It is okay to be beside yourself and even wrestle with your maker. Grief can do that to the human heart and soul. God has used scripture throughout The Bible to encourage me and inspire me. It has taught me to love beyond what I thought or felt love was or is. It has taught me about forgiveness and sacrifice. It has taught me that I am priceless and unforgettable. Boundaries, has taught me to have healthy relationships. These are just a few glimpses of books that have meant so much to me.There are so many more. Each book has come into my life in the right season.

Father thank you for books and using them to shape me. Thank you for giving me a heart for learning and seeking wisdom. Thank you for inspiring me to write and use it for your glory. I am a grateful servant.

Peace, love, and Jesus,

helmschick –out

I have a terrible headache among other things. I had a fierce case of the hives last night and it has spilled over to this morning. It is almost 10:00 a.m. and I still have hives. I even took an Atarax at midnight, because the hives had only progressed and the itching was keeping me awake. Hives are a beast. I didn’t think about A.1 sauce having tomatoes in it until I was eating it on my burger.

Today I start my 60 day adventure. It’s called 60 days of NO Tow-Mate-ers. That’s right 60 days of no pasta with red sauce. No pizza with red sauce. No A1 sauce or Worcestershire. No barbecue sauce, NO Ketchup, and NO Salsa. My chiropractor said I may be able to reset my allergy to tomatoes by staying completely off them for 60 days. He also told me to avoid strawberries. It’s going to be a little annoying to cut tomatoes completely out, but if it works then it is worth it.

I try not to gripe or be grumpy about a lot of things. But, once a month I inevitably get grumpier than normal. I am woman. I am allowed. As long as I don’t make others suffer with me, it’s all good. So, much like yesterday, I again feel like my lunchtime iced tea, UN-sweet. Really overall these are just little bumps in the road. Life has been a bit bumpier than normal around here and it’s got me frustrated. I’m going to keep persevering, cultivating my grateful thankful heart. As they say and as I have said, this too shall pass. It’s JUST for now. God has and is supplying all our needs. I need to make sure I focus on the needs and less on the wants. My trust is in Jesus. No fear. No stress. Take some deep breaths.Everything is falling into place.

I am unsweet like my tea,
So for your own good
let me be
I’m cranky and I know it…
And I will get through it and over it.

It has been a rough couple of weeks
But soon we’ll be out of the valley
And onto the mountain peaks
Where the sun shines brightly
Warming the soul
Preparing it for more
Come Sun or Storm

For no matter where we linger
Father you are the bringer of good, hope, and love
You make life sweeter.
Even when I am meaner
And because of Your love,
I won’t stay unsweet for long.

Peace, love, music, and Jesus,

helmschick –out

Ever been driving down the road listening to the radio and a song comes on that you try to sing along to but, you get all choked up? Big tears well up in your eyes and try to fight them and sing but, you can’t do either.

Well I was driving down the road listening to the christian music station here in Dallas, KLTY. The DJ started Nicole Nordeman’s song, Brave. She introduced it saying how Nicole lives here in Dallas and how cool would it be if she was listening right now. Also, she added how Brave was the song Nicole wrote for her son. Well Brave is a special song to me. It came out years ago around the time I was understanding my identity in Christ and how trusting and leaning on Him was making me want to be Brave.

But, funny enough, I woke up this morning with a Nicole Nordeman song on my mind.(I think that’s what brought the tears on.) Her song, What If, it’s on the Brave album. That song was on my mind because I was thinking about my friends who don’t have a relationship with Christ. And because she was on my mind, I decide I was going to talk about how I’m thankful for music on facebook today.  I love her lyrics and I’m trying to mention things I’m thankful for this month on facebook. But, I’m thinking maybe it should be a daily thing to do all year round. Cultivating a thankful heart can’t be a bad thing.

Since I have come this far, why don’t I just say here that I am thankful for music. I love music.I love song lyrics. They are poetry in motion. My dad use to play a game with me when I was little, Name that Tune or Name That Artist, or both. My dad introduced me to a variety of music when I was young. I can remember being five years old and listening to Billy Joel while I was trying to sleep. Dad introduced me to The Beatles, Led Zepplin, The Carpenters, Grand Funk Railroad, The Eagles, Chicago, Elton John, Steve Perry, The Doobie Brothers, The Beach Boys, The Doors, Kenny Rogers, Randy Travis, George Strait, The Judds, Neil Young, Conway Twitty, Boston, Whitney Houston, John Denver(my favorite at Christmas time), James Taylor,Rich Mullins, Fleetwood Mac, Michael Jackson, CCR and so many others. But most times when I hear a song from one of the singers listed, I think of my dad. I use to get so excited and feel so smart knowing the answers.

 I’m thankful for the music of TobyMac, Amy Grant, DC Talk, Rich Mullins, 4Him, Nichole Nordeman, John Denver, Journey(Steve Perry lead), The Beatles(the younger years), Randy Travis, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Laura Story, Carrie Underwood, Whitney Houston, Three Days Grace ,U2, Kelly Clarkson, Steven Curtis Chapman, and so many many more. I love hymns too. Music has been a part of me, all my life. Different songs have helped me through different times in my life. Music can be your best friend on a bad day. Music helps you clean the house! Music sings to my SOUL. 

Peace, love, Jesus, and music,

helmschick –out

“The saddest thing about life is you don’t remember half of it. You don’t even remember half of the half of it.”
“I have this friend Bob who writes down everything he remembers…….. He said he captures memories, because if he forgets them, it’s as though they didn’t happen; it’s as though he hadn’t lived the parts he doesn’t remember.”

-Donald Miller, A Million Miles In A Thousand Years

It is so true how easily we forget some memories. I can easily remember the day I got married, the day my children were born, the storms in my life, and the day my PapPap died. I can read some books and quote them and others I have difficulty remembering: other than if I enjoyed them or not. I love to write. I use to journal a lot more of my life. In the difficult times I have journal-ed more. I need to make sure that I document all the good times too.

Which reminds me, today my daughter and I were walking to school and she said,”Mama I’m Coldielocks, get it?” I said, “Yes I get it,” and giggled. (It was pretty stinking cold out)

A few weeks back, maybe even a month ago, while my grandma was staying with us, my son really cracked me up. He had just taken a shower and walked past grandma and me in the living room, to put up his dirty clothes. I said, “Wow you smell good. You smell like your dad. Did you use his bath wash?  You better watch it, you might have girls chasing you on the playground.” My sons reply, “It only lasts eight hours.” My grandma and I started laughing and I remembered that on the bottle of body wash it reads, Old Spice Swagger 8 Hours. (He had done the math. I’m sure his teacher would be proud.)

Maybe we should all take the time to write down something good about everyday or sweet and silly things that happen to us throughout each week. It would be good reading on a rainy day.

Peace, love, and Jesus,
helmschick –out

Be anxious for nothing. Be anxious for nothing. Be anxious for nothing.

Almost everything is easier said than done. When you’re standing in the storm and the straight line winds are wailing on you, it is tough to be tough. Life is full of storms. Some of them weigh heavier on our hearts. Others weigh heavier on our shoulders. Stress is a dirty word and an awful obnoxious feeling. It causes us to under eat, over eat, loose sleep, and/or loose focus. I do rely on God. I know that no matter how tough the storm is, marriage, family, financial, sickness, or unemployment, it will be weathered with His grace and His mercies. I know that good can and does come out of hopeless and difficult situations. I know that with God nothing has to be hopeless. I know that focusing on Him and not my problems has helped me weather numerous storms. Having a positive attitude is really crucial to perseverance. But, lets be honest here. We are going to have moments where we feel discouraged or momentarily defeated. We are human it is inevitable. I just take a deep breath, maybe have a mild rant, surrender, pray, and trust God. I may have to do it again 5 minutes later, but that’s okay. Everyday has the potential for storms, but it’s what we do when we see the clouds coming that will define us.

Peace, love, and Jesus,

helmschick –out