Chin UP!!!

My blog today is from something I wrote while at the beach this past week.  I wanted to share it with you though as I was comforted by what I felt God was leading me to learn.

Chin UP!  That phrase brings on a whole new meaning as I was taking a walk on the beach today (actually, the 17th).  I was asking, thinking, talking to God as I was focused....looking down at the ground, mesmerized by the sand and shells I was strolling over.  I guess I was looking for the perfect shell for the girls, or maybe counting my steps in order to just get the walk over...You see, I don't know if I know how to walk to just enjoy the act of walking.  Today was no different....I just wanted to get it done to get on to the next thing.  I was laboring away walking, looking no further than my feet.  I'm a get it done kind of gal.  While I was walking head down, zoned in to the 3 feet or less in front of me, I was certain I heard that still small voice of God whispering ever so loudly to my soul...LOOK UP, or CHIN UP!!!  You see, until then, it had been a cloudy, overcast, rainy kind of morning....the sun quietly hidden behind those gray rainy looking clouds.  To my amazement, as I looked up and lifted my chin, I hadn't even noticed that the sun had come out....It had pushed its way through those dreary clouds and was there, bright as could be.... The warmth was on my face was solid proof that those clouds were gone!  As this morning time on the beach unfolded before me a couple of random (or not) thoughts came to mind.  I as so desperately long to heal from so much pain...missing my sweet Maria...Trying to find the meaning and purpose for how I will live from here on out here is what was spoken to my soul.

•  If we keep our heads down, either out of defeat or loss or shame or tiredness...whatever the reason, we are going to miss the beautiful sun (and SON) that is right there in front of us, shining its warmth to our faces and our souls!

•  We need to understand down to the depths of our souls that whether behind a storm cloud quietly or whether blazing cloudless in the bright blue sky right in our face obvious, Jesus, the Son is always...not sometimes, present.  No matter what the circumstance. 

•  As we walk with Chins up, faces directed toward the Son, we won't see nor have to deal with the pettiness of life much like the hundreds of seashells I was so fixated on.  As we focus on Him, the things of life can be stepped over like those shells....(I know, easier said than done....trust me...I'm trying to preach to the choir here, who is.....ME!).  Is it possible that some of those seashells of life will just go away?  I think so!

• As we keep our faces turned toward Him, maybe we won't see life as a walk we feel we just half to get through and cross off our lists of things to get done.....laboring and counting steps as we go because we just want it to be over...Maybe we can actually start to allow God to direct our lives in the direction that He wants us to go.

•  He is gonna tell us where to step and when to look down if our faces are on Him.  As I was walking and looking up allowing my face to feel His warm presence, I felt like I was supposed to look down and open my eyes.  When I did, I was getting ready to step right on a baby hammerhead shark!  It was deceased, but none the less....A shark!

•  God allows the sharks of life like the hard places of suffering and difficulties.  WE ALL HAVE THEM!  But...if our faces are turned toward Him, He will tell us when to look and how to survive those times by completely trusting Him.  He navigates the steps and takes us where He wants us to go because He loves us and wants us to become more like Him.  It is not up to us!

•  Today, had that shark been alive, I would have totally freaked....heebie jeebies to the max....I could not have handled it!  I feel confident that God allowed it to be deceased so that I could at least write this journal entry..... and besides, I carried all the way back to the condo where we were staying and became quite the hero to my kids, young and old!

I hope that in some way, this has touched or helped you.  I hope that my journey will be one that will encourage you to walk....CHIN UP!!!!

Be encouraged today,

Mary Beth

   

Comments

[paige]

thank you marybeth

i have not lost a child
i have however lost a husband
i am a peditric oncology nurse and have been "around" death and sadness for much of my adult life.

i struggle with fears
fears of health
fears of dying myself & leaving behind my 4 daughters
i worry
i worry about things that basically may not ever happen but they suck the life right out of me as if they really did

thank you for your beautiful reminder
to keep my chin up

xo

[Amy]

Thank you!! Why is it we continually need those reminders? Even in the everyday day we walk with our head down not noticing all of his wonderful miracles and even miss out on those he has placed in front of us who need his love or to be shown his love even more so.

[Dana]

Thank you once again for your words of wisdom. This is another blog post that I will be keeping. Thank you for the reminders to keep my CHIN UP so that I can SEE the blessings that God has for me. I love the pictures of the girls but esp. the video of Stevey Joy's reaction to the shark. That still brings a smile to my face.

Your words have been a true encouragement to me. How lucky we are to have God as our Father. I really don't know how those who don't have him make it through the tough times.

Praying for your family always,
Dana

[mary suggs]

Marybeth, thank you so much for coninuing to blog. I've been going through a rough patch myself lately - nothing compared to what you've had to go through, but hey, I'm a teenager, I'm confused enough about life anyway! - and reading your blog has really encouraged me and reminded me that even though I can't feel it, God is with me even through my darkest hour. Thank you so much for reminding us all to keep our chins up.

[Amy]

Just when I think you can't amaze me anymore...you do. I can't think of anything else to say other than...thank you.

May we all walk through our lives with our Chins up...
Amy

[Carla Craig]

Here is a devotional that I read from "Echoes of Eternity" you may have it:

"Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6

In the safety of My care you may rest your soul. No harm can reach you here where My power and protection prevail. With lustful eye, you have often looked beyond that safety, fantasizing how much better life would be apart from the narrowness of My way. You have robbed yourself of much peace that was available to you. My work is still going on in your soul. Yes, it is "repair work," and therefore slow and painstaking. But it is My work, and it must be done according to My design, not yours. If My ways seem strange, recall often My tender mercies. Stand on solid ground, look up, believe, and you will see the glory of God."

[danny]

thanks, mary beth.

[Carla Craig]

Beautiful and so encouraging, just what I needed to hear! Thank you!

[Jill Campione]

Marybeth,

Thankyou so much for posting. We have been getting hit so hard lately and God really used you to bring light to the truth and to encourage me. May you be greatly refreshed for your willingness to refresh others.

Jill
New Jersey

[Kathryn B @ Expectant Hearts]

Mary Beth, I just found your blog recently.. I wanted to comment after today's post.. Tomorrow (well, today when I look at the time), is our youngest son's first birthday.. And he is spending it in Heaven after battling HLHS for 6 1/2 months of his life. For reasons beyond my control, I don't get to spend tomorrow the way I might want to but am "forced" to walk on with my "chin up!". Thank you for giving me that perspective!

I think I'm off to bed.. So I CAN face tomorrow, Chin up!

[Heidi Eggers]

Your chin up writing is so wonderful...thanks so much for sharing!

[Susan]

"I lift my eyes (and CHIN) to the hills; where does my hope come from? My hope comes form the LORD, the maker of heaven and earth."

Psalm 121:1-2

[Paige Betterton]

You are so totally right. I have struggled with the pettines of life for about the last three weeks. I have been living my life caught up in the daily hum drum of marking everything off my list and not experiencing life. Thank you for reminding me to experience life-no matter how hard it is sometimes. You sound peaceful. Congrats on spending more time at Show Hope!

Still praying,
Paige Betterton

[Nancy (in MN)]

Mary Beth,

I agree with what others have said here - you have a gift for writing so honestly. I would love to read a book that you write.

God has really spoken to me thru your posts and esp today's. His timing is so perfect -it seems that whenever we are going thru something He always knows how to show up and speak to us so we can see Him thru other's words, a song, a devo etc. I am so encouraged thru what you heard from Him.

Thank you so much for blogging here and sharing. You are a great inspiration to us all.

Love ya,

Nancy (in MN)

[Carrie Laumann]

The Lord is greatly glorified as you humbly share your struggles and how you are looking to Him. Praise God you are sharing so openly that we too may be encouraged as we walk through life. I related to you especially today, and thank the Lord for helping me with my two adopted miracles.

[l watson]

Mary Beth, thank you for sharing your heart in such a loving, precious way. Your courage and faith is an example to all. Your tender heart gives our Father a special reason to "smile" on you with his warmth from the "Son".

[Kim]

Have fun in Chicago, and if your girls are with you, FAO Schwartz! My cousin works there; sorry for the shameless plug. :)

[Tiffany McGraw-Legere]

Wow Mary Beth - sounds like you have a book in the making. Keep up the amazing, inspiring writing! I'll be the first one in line to buy the book! Call it, "The Strength Behind the Songs"....or something like that...haha!

You are amazing!

[Abbey]

Yeah i have that habit quite alot....i always look toward the ground for some reason....never really knew why. Like today has been nothing, but dark, dreay, and endless sorta describes the kind of day i had! Terrible and dreadful! I just wanted it to end and it still hasn't ended. Though theirs only one good thing that came out of those mysterious, black clouds and it was rain. It seemed to lighten my mood just enough to realize that even through out all that darkness and awfulness was the beauty of the rain and then the beauty of the flowers that are now blooming in the spring air. Their always going to be those days that seem to get you off track and make you feel as if the world is tumbling down around you, but then you see that beauty and realize their is still good and good things will come, eventually. We just have to be patient. God is working in all our lives everyday. And even though we all experience those never-ending-days-of-doom theirs always something beautiful around the corner. So your right Mary Beth keep your chin up and look towards God for guidance. As long as you hang in there Mary Beth then so will I =)!!! Much love from me...

~Abbey

[Heather Marie Flatt]

Your sweet message from the Lord has now become my new message from Him today. I'm so glad you have the courage to share. It's sure had an impact on me today!

God Bless!
Heather Marie from Ohio

[Kim in Knoxville]

Thank you so much for your courage and desire to share with the rest of us what the Lord has been revealing to you during this difficult journey. Thank you also for sharing the adorable pictures.

I am a Christian who has struggled with the depression thing for years. The Lord is so faithful and loving all the time, despite the emotions of the day (some that can be controlled, many that can't). You have helped so much to remind me of that.

Praying for you and your sweet family, for His perfect peace. comfort and loving arms to surround you all.

[Jenny]

Mary Beth,
Chin up! I really like that, thanks for sharing that phrase and what God showed you through it. I'm going to keep that in mind :) Thanks for sharing your journey with us. This has been an odd week for me and I really needed that reminder to stay focused on Jesus at all times. Thank you! You are such an encouragement!

What precious pics of Stevey Joy and Shaoey :)

Praying for you and your whole family, for healing, comfort, peace, and daily strength. Also, praying for all of you as the United tour starts up again soon. Love you guys!!!
-Jenny (from NY)

[Laure H.]

God also told me that "chin up" thing when I was in the mountains of NC as a counselor of summer camp. I was watching my feet so close so I wouldn't fall and when God told me to look up. I saw all the wonderful things I had been missing. And what a great lesson for so many things in life too. I'm thrilled about what God told you. And I appreciate your encouragement. Love, Laurie

[Joseph and Karen]

Mary Beth,

Amen to that! We believe in The Awesomeness of our Heavenly Father. He alone can speak to our hearts that no one else could.

We really All need to keep our heads up and fix our eyes to the One who leads our way.

We cannot thank our Lord enough for being a great example in living a life that pleases God.

May you and your family feel the arms of Jesus daily---as you rest in His promises!

Fervently praying and loving you.

"You will keep on guiding me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny."
~ Psalm 73:24

[Jody Schonberg]

Mary Beth,

You are so amazing! I think the fact that you are still able and willing to listen to God's voice is wonderful! You are living a life of authenticity and doing it publicly. The world needs more of that. I appreciate your openness and read your blog every day. You are an inspiration to me.

Jody
Brooklyn Park, MN