01.02.09

BELIEVE …

Posted in Believe, Blessings, Heart Tugs, Thankfulness at 4:26 pm by Sandi Rauwolf

I hope your holidays were filled with blessings! This Christmas God sent me another very special gift (and I didn’t think it could get any better than Christmas of 1998!). It started with Him opening up the door for me to appear on FamilyNet’s Mornings with Lorri & Larry on December 23rd. My son, Ty, asked if he could come along with me to the In Touch Ministries Studio in Atlanta (that really touched my heart knowing he wanted to share in this moment with his mom). Our flights were booked for Monday night. I had worked all day and barely finished up the things I needed to get done before the holiday. The stress of work combined with the hustle and bustle we all get into around the holidays didn’t allow a single second of relaxation. We rushed off to the airport to make our 5:30 pm flight. We left the gate a little late and arrived in Atlanta around 9 pm. The Atlanta airport is huge! I couldn’t believe how big it was. Ty asked if we could walk to the baggage area (5,000 ft away – ughh!) I was wearing 3 inch heeled boots (something I am use to since I am married to a 6 ft. 3 in husband!) so I said why not – God has blessed me with the ability to walk so let’s do it! Well I had no idea just how FAR that would be but we did it. It was an hour and a half before we got our baggage, rental car and arrived at the hotel.

As we walked into the hotel, Ty looks up at the huge beautiful lobby surrounded by marble and water fountains. He turns to me with a smile and said, “You really made it, Mom.” Tears filled my eyes and my heart – well, it was overflowing. God is amazing!! I had hoped to help one person and look what He was doing. He is just TOO GOOD!

We were starving so we dropped off our luggage in the room and headed straight down to the hotel restaurant. It was open for about 20 more minutes – thank goodness! We were greeted by an incredibly, kind man. His nametag read “Work”. I said “Work?” He explained he had that done as a conversation starter. Brilliant, I thought! He said, “So you are here visiting family for the holidays?” I said, “Actually we are here because I am an author and scheduled to be on the Mornings with Lorri & Larry show tomorrow morning.” A big smile formed across his lips and he said, “Yeah that is a very popular show down here – so you are a believer?” I smiled back and said, “Yes, I sure am!” We started talking about the book and some of the things God has done in our lives. He was a kind spirit with a huge heart for God. It was obvious he touched every life God sent into his path just by who he was. He was so positive and excited about life. He understands that each minute is a gift and to cherish it!

I then felt God tugging on my heart to give a book to him. I had packed some to bring to the studio so asked Ty if he would get one out of the room for me. He did and I signed it handing it to Work. He was so thankful! The excitement of others to my story surprises me each time :) I mean after all, it’s just me! I’m no one special, just a normal person who God guided to write a book. He tucked the book under his arm and carried it around. He seemed to cherish this special gift. I saw him talking with another gentleman. He then showed him my book and pointed over to our table. The two of them then walked over. Work wanted to introduce me to William. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, William” I said as I reached out my hand to shake his. William and Work have worked together for some time. William asked me what my book was about so I started sharing some things God has done in my life. He then began to share some pretty big crosses he had to bear himself including losing his marriage and almost losing his life! Challenges that brought him to his knees but He then quickly shared how thankful he was for those times because they led them to God. “Amen!!!” I said as I smiled. We began to share how thankful we were for the adversities and challenges we have had. Can you imagine? There we stood, both of hearts overflowing with gratefulness for all of the DIFFICULT times that we had faced in our lives. Why? Well because now we understand how critical those times are to strengthening our faith and maturing us in our walk with God. It was just another testimony to how adversities make us realize that in weakness is when we are strong because we have no strength left of our own so GOD IS OUR STRENGTH. “… For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 14:10

William said good-bye as he went back to finish his shift. Work then brought our check and shared with me that in all of the time he has worked with William, he had no idea he was a believer. I smiled thinking how amazing God is! There are no coincidences in life – not with God! I sat there thankful for how God connects people. How he connects the dots in life. How something as simple as a kind gesture of a stranger has now connected two believers, believers who can now help each other along their walk with Him. And, once again how important it is we listen to that tug He puts on our hearts because we never know how it may change the life of the person crossing our path. We headed back to the room to get some sleep – it was late! As I drifted off to sleep, I said a prayer to God thanking him for the gift of being able to witness His hand in connecting two of His children!!

I’m sorry, I know this is getting lengthy but I feel God wants me to share all of this with you :) …

The next morning, we headed out around 7 am. The studio was BEAUTIFUL! Security let us in and I was again overwhelmed with thankfulness. He led us to the make-up room and showed us where we could help ourselves to beverages and snacks. I sat in the chair while the make-up artist touched me up for the show. Is this really happening? I mean, am I really sitting here in Dr. Stanley’s studio? Amazing! We then headed into be part of the studio audience to watch the show until it was time for me to go on. (Lorri & Larry have such a wonderful show bringing inspiration and touching lives around the world. I was thankful for the opportunity of meeting them. I encourage you to tune in or be part of their studio audience if you are ever in the Atlanta, GA area)!

We were going live in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 … There I stood on LIVE TV sharing the wonderful things God has done in my life with millions of people (they simulcast on both TV and satellite radio)! Lorri & Larry are WONDERFUL!! They were so kind and genuinely excited about my book. I had to fight back the tears … to think that just 10 years ago I was in a hospital bed fighting for my life, praying for a miracle and the realization overcoming me of just how far He has brought me – blessings that are truly “too good”!! There is NOTHING that He cannot do!

They announced they were opening the phones for viewers to call in to receive a free copy of my book, Blessings Too Good. My stomach dropped for a moment, “what if no one calls in?” I said a silent prayer in my head. I then looked down to see the phone lines lighting up! I cannot even express how good my heart felt knowing God was reaching this many people. The last call that came in was a woman who had been fighting an illness for 3 ½ years. She said she was in tears watching the show and was so thankful for the special gift God sent her that day in hearing my message. That single moment, I felt as of the world stopped and my soul was basking in a feeling of euphoria. Nothing fills every space of your heart like those kinds of moments from God!

God reminded me yet again that we cannot even comprehend all that He has planned for us. It’s more than I could have ever imagined!! And here I thought there could not be a gift more special than the gift He sent me 10 years ago at Christmas. “’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

May you seek Him in ALL things this New Year 2009 with a faithful heart knowing that He has a plan for YOU just BELIEVE!!

Love to you all!

Sandi Rauwolf
Author, Blessings Too Good

12.18.08

Santa’s Line …

Posted in Believe, Christmas, Self Reflection at 11:14 pm by Sandi Rauwolf

We headed to Indy this past weekend for a family weekend to celebrate my mother-in-law’s birthday. It’s a great tradition and one we look forward to every year! We go to the zoo – bundled up with little ones in tow as we walk down the beautifully lit paths lined with Christmas lights sparkling from the bushes and trees. Little red noses and rosy cheeks peek out through the hats and scarves. The kids think it’s cool they can see their breath when they talk! They can’t contain their excitement because they know this cold walk on a path lined with beautiful lights was leading us to Santa (which happens to be in a warm, cozy house! :) The kids didn’t seem to notice the cold but the adults were freezing – brrrr!!! The adults thought about getting warm and the kids about Santa but all focused on one destination and that was Santa’s house! There were multiple paths seamlessly interconnected as if a skilled artist used his black paint-filled brush to effortlessly glide along the canvas drawing each to its destination. Soon we approached Santa’s house and hurriedly crammed inside the door only to stand in an endless line to see Santa.

Kids were doing their best to behave because although they have always been told that Santa is watching them, this time they KNEW he really was! Despite their best efforts, something would lure them away – maybe the reindeer station where they could see a real reindeer or maybe Mrs. Claus’s cookies that they could help decorate. But, their parents were there to gather them back and keep them focused on why they were there and that was to see Santa! You could see in their faces how hard they were trying to be good!!! The younger they were, the more they would wander or be easily persuaded off path. Then their mom or dad would bring them back once again just to have their brother or sister wander off in another direction. Then finally the little tots were back in line and looking up to the older kids – great idea! Well, it WAS until the older kids wandered off path and all of the little tots followed – first one, then another and then yet another. But the parents were there again gathering them all up and getting them back in line.

The little ones, so sweet, innocent and naïve were more easily pulled off path. Not all of them wandered, some young tikes were standing in line very determined to focus on Santa – nothing would pull them away!! Or would it? Well nothing until an older kid stepped out of line making them think it was ok to do the same. Or when another kid grabbed their hand to pull them towards something that seemed better than standing in a “boring” line to a Santa they weren’t even sure was there!! After all, they couldn’t see him thru all of the towering older kids and crowds of people – so is he real?

Standing there in line Chris and I were helping keep all of the little ones from wandering. I felt blessed with an uncanny depiction of what God must see when He looks down from heaven at US. He has children of all ages – some infants just learning to walk, some adolescents fairly strong in their walk but some times pulled away and others mature focused with their eyes on Him.

We are each at different stages of our spiritual walk with God. We’ve all wandered off path at one point in our lives and actually we may have even pulled others off of their paths at times. Where are we today in our walk with God? I mean we know God is always with us even if we can’t see Him past the crowds … but are we as faithful to Him in our hearts as we say we are or when tempted do we find that we make everything but Him our number one priority and are easily pulled out of line? So I guess I am asking:

Are we the kid who easily wanders out of line?

“They greatly love to wander; they do not restrain their feet.” Jeremiah 14:10

Or …

Are we the kid in line with his/her eyes focused on God?

“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.” Joshua 1:7

We never know how many little tikes might be looking our direction to see what we are going to do or how we will react in a situation (especially when we are tested) … so how do you act in line?

May God bless you!!

Love,
Sandi