Posted by Patti Foster on May 14th, 2012 — Posted in Uncategorized
A Welcomed Vision
Posted Monday, May 14, 2012 by Marilyn Meberg with WOMEN OF FAITH
To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: . . . a time to weep, and a time to laugh. —Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4
Eleven or twelve hours after my mother’s death, I was in the shower, which often serves as my sanctuary, thinking about my mom. Trying to internalize the enormity of what had happened that day, I pondered her arrival in heaven. What was it like?
As I tried to visualize her in her new surroundings, I became lost to my own. Gradually, I saw her in the arms of Jesus. He was holding her as one would a child, cradling her against his body. Her face was radiant, and as Jesus held her, he began to gently swing her back and forth in his arms, back and forth.
In the vision, Mom laughed and laughed, until her head was thrown back in total abandonment. At first I was a bit startled. Mom hadn’t laughed in two years—hadn’t even smiled in six months. But as joy and relief flooded over me I thought, Well, of course. She can laugh now. God has wiped away all her tears, and now it is my mother’s time to laugh again.
I don’t believe I’d ever had a vision before. I’m not even sure what I think about people who claim to have them! But that evening, the image of my mother’s carefree laughing not only comforted me but also inspired a concept I love: In life we encounter pain, heartache, and sorrow. But as believers in Christ, who conquered death, we have the last laugh
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Posted by Patti Foster on May 6th, 2012 — Posted in Patti's Brain Waves
Hmmm…when one doesn’t know…I say, I do wonder what she means by that?
When we seem to be in a bind and we clearly don’t know what to do, which way to go, or who to ask, how do we respond? What are we to do?
There are many words I could write and different verses of Scripture I could quote, but I’m simply going to pass along these three words that a loving mother from the hills of the Tyre and Sidon region pleaded to the Lord Jesus, “Lord, help me.”
(If you want to read more, dive-in to Matthew 15:21 and read a wee bit!)
Call out His name…He’ll help you.
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Posted by Patti Foster on May 1st, 2012 — Posted in Keepin' Up with Patti
* April 27 – Emcee; “Relay for Life” Rally; Jacksonville, TX
* April 29 – College Department; First Baptist Church; Jacksonville, TX
* April 30 – UNT Health Science Center; Fort Worth, TX
* May 5 – Partners for Youth; MADD; Tyler, TX
* May 9 – BIR; Dallas, TX
* May 10 – Center for Counseling & Enrichment; Arlington, TX
* May 10 – Webinar; HPS University, ValueOptions; Dallas, TX
* May 11 – Featured Guest; U2HAVEHOPE with Carrie Cooper; 91.3FM; Airing TBA
* May 12 – Partners for Youth; MADD; Tyler, TX
* May 21 – Living Alternatives and United Way Event; Jacksonville, TX
* May 23 – BIR; Dallas, TX
* May 24 – Center for Counseling & Enrichment; Arlington, TX
* May 27 – First Baptist Church; Mixon, TX
* June 3 – Ladies Bible Study; East Side Baptist Church; Rusk, TX
* June 18 – 10th Anniversary of the wreck
* June 23 – Friends of Hope; BIR; First United Methodist Church; Sherman, TX
* July 16 – Women of Purpose; People’s Church; Jacksonville, TX
* September 15 – Featured Guest; U2HAVEHOPE; 91.3FM KDKR.org at 4pm cst
* October 23 – Ladies Retreat; Holly Tree Chapel; Holly Lake Ranch, TX
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Posted by Patti Foster on April 29th, 2012 — Posted in Patti's Brain Waves
Lately, I’ve been involved in a lot of different things, one of them being the Relay For Life in Cherokee County. As I emceed the Opening Ceremony and everything that happened until the wee hours of the morning, I met and greeted and talked with lots of people. Had a great time!
During the week prior to the event, I was re-reading Nancy Brinker’s book about Suzy (Susan Goodman Komen), Promise Me. Here’s the first sentence: “My waking memories of my sister have grown hazy over the years, but Suzy still passes through my dreams as animate and vivid as a migrating butterfly.”
Question: What passes through your mind…why do you do what you do?
“When we have gone into the furnace of affliction, God’s hand is on the thermostat and His eye is on the clock.” ~Anonymous
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Posted by Patti Foster on April 22nd, 2012 — Posted in Patti's Brain Waves
A Faith Ride
with Patti Foster of KVNE in October, 1998
featured in Megaplex Heritage News
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Growing up in small-town America, my brother and I used to go on what we called “faith rides.” We’d climb up into our cousin’s monstrous four-wheel drive truck and scream as he wheeled us across swollen rivers and through camouflaged mud holes. (I thought they were sure to swallow us.)
There was a lot I couldn’t see from where I sat. My vantage point didn’t allow for a clear view of what was to come, but one thing was for sure: I always knew we’d be okay. Unlike my brother and me, my cousin knew what he was doing. He was well aware of the twists and turns in the road. He knew the dark holes and muddy waters to come. He’d been there before. We hadn’t. We had to trust him with what we couldn’t see or understand.
When you get dealt a hand that makes no sense, what do you do? You might say to yourself, “I didn’t ask for this, I don’t want it, and frankly, I don’t deserve it!”
Hmm…deserve. Now that’s a thought, Christ didn’t deserve to die, but He chose to so that we could live. In fact, let’s take this a step further.
This whole idea of deserving something is a farce in and of itself. It has its nasty roots in the idea that life is supposed to be fair.
Fair? Where’s that in the Bible? I don’t find anything about fair, but I find everything about faith. You know the Biblical definition. “Faith is being sure of what we hope for, and certain of what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1) Faith has a way of disarming the farce of fairness, and the force of fear. Faith is the all-consuming conqueror because faith is nestled in the person of Christ.
Like glue, faith holds us together, even when we feel like we are falling apart. It’s hard to believe in something we can’t see, but that’s exactly what God expects of us. Faith makes sense out of the senseless, and gives hope to the hopeless.
Remember this, when the journey of life takes us over some rough and rugged terrain, choose the four-wheel drive of faith. It’s the number one spiritual utility vehicle on the market.
www.pattifoster.com
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Posted by Patti Foster on April 15th, 2012 — Posted in Patti's Brain Waves
One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. (Proverbs 18:24)
This is fresh on my mind because I’ve just witnessed this “reliable vs. unreliable” friend-thing lived out before my very eyes!
A great, college fellow, who’s a strong believer with lots of integrity, just found out a couple of days ago that his highly-respected and much-loved grandfather had died while at Hospice.
In no time at all, word had spread and a number of his other college friends had packed their bags and come-in from out-of-town to be by his side and give him some support. They had gone out of their way for him because they cared.
Wow, that’s what I call some reliable friends!
8-12 I must begin by telling you how I thank God through Jesus Christ for you all, since the news of your faith has become known everywhere. Before God, whom I serve with all my heart in the Gospel of his Son, I assure you that you are always in my prayers. I am longing to see you: I want to bring you some spiritual strength, and that will mean that I shall be strengthened by you, each of us helped by the other’s faith. (Romans 1:11,12; J.B.Phillips Translation)
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Posted by Patti Foster on April 8th, 2012 — Posted in M.A.D. Now!, Patti's Brain Waves
Remembering…
Ah, there’s so much in our brains, on our hearts, written on our “to-do” lists, etc. You name it and it’s there waiting to be checked off in a matter of time…we hope.
What’s important…and what’s not? I don’t mean a “priority,” but what’s really important and worth remembering?
Merriam-Webster defines important as:
1: marked by or indicative of significant worth or consequence : valuable in content or relationship
2 obsolete : importunate, urgent
3: giving evidence of a feeling of self-importance
So, here’s the “deep thought of the day” for us: As we live, day-by-day, what do our lives give evidence of and indicate as being valuable and worth remembering?
…to say “Thank you”, think of others, step into another person’s shoes, smile more often, hold our tongue, don’t get mad so fast, let somebody know we care, say “I’m sorry”, laugh more…and don’t be afraid to laugh at ourself! I know there’s so much more we could add, but this is a great place to start.
So, while you drive to and from work, as you take the kids to school, pay bills, run errands, brush your teeth, etc., think about the things that are healthy and worth remembering….. *(Don’t forget: Let your audio match your video!) 
M.A.D. Now! (Make A Difference Now!)
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Posted by Patti Foster on April 1st, 2012 — Posted in Patti's Brain Waves
Just wondering…
As you look back over your life, could this be said of you? “She could cut up with the best of them but, when it was time to get serious and have a heart-to-heart, she was ready…she was used by God to bless others and disciple them, even in her youth.”
Sure, you might have to replace a few she’s and her’s if you’re a guy, but other than that, would this match your life?
Not long ago, one of my dear friends agreed to help me answer a few questions about the wreck and such that my editor/ghostwriter had asked me. A question about Heather’s funeral was one of them.
When I’d asked my friend to help me, she emailed me back her memories and details of Heather’s funeral in less than 36 hours. Wow, that was fast! Faster than I’d expected. Plus, I think her writing this (and my getting to read it) meant even more to me because I had not gotten to go to Heather’s funeral…I was still fighting for my life in the coma.
Anyway, like I was saying at the beginning, I was just wondering if you had any idea what would be said of you when you die?
Like my motto for living (since the wreck of 2002) says: M.A.D. Now! Choose today to Make A Difference Now!
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Posted by Patti Foster on March 25th, 2012 — Posted in Patti's Brain Waves
1 O LORD, who may abide in Your tent?
Who may dwell on Your holy hill? 2 He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, And speaks truth in his heart. (Psalm 15:2. New American Standard Bible)
One day, I was reading the 15th chapter of the Book of Psalms in a friend’s copy of the New American Standard Bible. These two verses really jumped out and grabbed my attention, especially the second one! God was applying it staight to my heart: “Patti, walk with integrity, work righteousness, and speak the truth in your heart.”
It SO hit me – no matter what anybody else does or how they live, you, Patti Foster, live this way. In all that I do, I must walk in and with integrity. I must work righteousness, not ways of game-playing as so much of the world is doing these days. And I must speak the truth in and from my heart, not merely from my mouth.
As I’m writing this week’s post, this older song recorded by the group, Truth, is playing in my head: God will make a way…where there seems to be no way…He works in ways we cannot see…He will make a way for me…
He’s got you covered!
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Posted by Patti Foster on March 18th, 2012 — Posted in Patti's Brain Waves
Hi, Everybody!
Yesterday, I received this email from a friend. ‘Thought you might enjoy reading it.
**Vitamin F **
Why do I have a variety of friends who are all so different in character?
How can I get along with them all?
I think that each one helps to bring out a “different” part of me.
With one of them I am polite. I joke with another friend.
I sit down and talk about serious matters with one. With another I laugh a lot.
I listen to one friend’s problems. Then I listen to another one’s advice for me.
My friends are all like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. When completed, they form a treasure box.
A treasure of friends! They are my friends who understand me better than myself,
who support me through good days and bad days. We all pray together and for each other.
Real Age doctors tell us that friends are good for our health.
Dr. Oz calls them Vitamin F (for Friends) and counts the benefits of friends as essential to our well-being.
Research shows that people in strong social and religious circles have less risk of depression and terminal strokes.
If you enjoy ‘Vitamins F’ constantly you can be up to 30 years younger than your real age.
The warmth of friendship stops stress and even in your most intense moments it decreases the chance
of a cardiac arrest or stroke by 50%.
I’m so happy that I have a stock of Vitamin F !!
In summary, we should value our friends and keep in touch with them.
We should try to see the funny side of things and laugh together, and pray for each other in the tough moments.
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