What is the cost?????

   

 Good evening all, well Monday is over so now you can go about having a great week! Today our high was 76 with a nice breeze what would have been perfect but for the flies, they are hideous this season, normally they leave the 1st of September but have decided to stay on for a while...I detest them crawling on my skin so have been forced to enjoy the nice weather from behind the glass in the safe confines of my home!
     I pray that today you have been moved by someone or something in a random act of kindness, you know random acts do not cost money, they do not take special planning, they can come in the from of a hello how are you, or just a "meant" smile! Some people feel that acts of kindness come in the form of dollars, I would much rather have an act given me that was from the heart not the store! Some of the sweetest gifts are those that included an nice carefree visit, a nice cup of coffee and some good fellowship! I love people, I love thoughtfulness and I love "real" meaning in actions. Tomorrow how nice would it be to get out of bed having thanked God for waking up, everything went as planned, coffee was hot, morning was smooth, commute was without incident, coworkers were smiling, customers were understanding and friendly...how would it be? Well you hold the answer to that in your hand, have you ever crossed a grumpy person and just smiled and wished them a good day,  if they decided to retort with a negative you retorted with a positive, before long that person sees how ugly their mood is and they let it go and join you! Positive is contagious, it is refreshing and before you know it, you are an addict! Show some love tomorrow, share random acts and see how your day goes!
     I pray for you this night that you have peace in your heart, that all of the yuck of your day is now silently slinking away from your spirits, that you are able to sit and relax doing something that is pleasing to you, that you feel loved, that you feel appreciated and that you have accepted God into your life and that he is the head of your home! Love in Christ to each of you.
     Please continue to pray that the heavens open up and the rains are allowed to fall on all of the states who are being ravaged with fire and drought, please continue to pray for all of the new babies who have been born that they know true love all of their lives, pray for those saying "see ya later" to the loved ones who have been called home to heaven that they are feeling the calm of comfort God has for them, pray for those suffering addiction that leads down a dark and lonely path that they might see the light of Christ and turn to it for the real true high they are seeking, pray for each other that the burdens of others are lifted and peace comes into alignment in their lives, pray for me please that my health continues to get better and that the kidney problem is gone! God we ask all of these favors and mercies in the name of our savior Jesus Christ, amen...

Are you a lighthouse or are you a storm????

     Good evening, as another day comes to a close I cannot help but think about the wonderful story I posted earlier about the threadbare quilt, our book of life was written before we gained our earthly bodies, he knew everything that we would do, every turn that we would take and every hurdle that we would be faced with before he let us leave our heavenly kingdom as the pure spirits we were. He knew the trials and tribulations that would face us and he was hopeful that the faith we possessed would be enough to carry us through. I pray that my quilt is threadbare and filled with holes when I return home to him, I pray that my scars will be enough to make him pleased with the person I have become, with the decisions I have made and with the obedience I have had to him. My life has been filled with ups and downs, mostly downs, not by his hand but by the choices I have made, by my inability to stay on the straight and narrow and by my thinking I know better than HE when it comes to  mucking through. It has taken me many years to "get it" to understand that I do not know it all, that only HE does. My life would have been so much easier if I had, in my youth, figured things out and depended upon him to lead me. Many people say I am hard headed, I am stubborn and I am like a bull when it comes to getting my way! I do not like being likened to a bull but in looking back on my "day" I must confess that it does not miss the mark! Today I like to think that those negative characteristics have been pushed to the wayside and that, thanks to God's patience and understanding, I am on the right track, I see more clearly and I am pushing up hill to secure my right to passage when my time here is done.
    Tonight I bow my head humbly, I pray for each of us, for our salvation, for our ability to "see the lighthouse in the storm and know if we keep it in our view that we will make it to the glorious shore safely, that we will all meet there, a song on our lips, a smile on our face and so much love and awe in our hearts that our light shines as bright as the northern star. God please shine a light in us tonight that might get us, each and every one of us, back on the track, back in your footsteps and walking up straight and tall. I ask you God to bless those who are in dark caverns, that they might begin to realize that just past the cavern wall is a light, a beautiful light, one that has been made just for them. Father please allow each of us to be more aware of those in the dark, allow us to be more empathetic to those who have lost their way, allow us to be your eyes and ears here on earth and send us where we need be so that we might be a light to bring the darkness to a halt for them. I ask that you bless all with their needs father, you are all knowing and all seeing, look into the hearts of each earthly body and supply us with your light. Father God I ask these mercies in the name of Jesus Christ, amen and amen again!
     Might you be the light of a person who feels that there is only darkness, take time to listen to the still quiet voice of our Father in Heaven and be the instrument he needs. Stop, look and listen, he will always provide you with what he needs you to see and hear! Love in Christ to each of you. 

only one seed!!!!!

Good Saturday morning to all:)
     58 degrees, dense cloudy skies, a mild breeze and what could be no sun breaking through anything, it looks a if a storm may be in our near future, but we were gifted with a wonderful week, each day warmer and sunnier than the day before, so no complaints if God feels we need rain on this day! 
     This morning in prayer as I sat in the hazy quietness of the outdoors, I again asked God to bless each of us suffering any from of angst, any form of turmoil, andy form of woe, any form of illness...I asked him to be our reason for hope, for him to place his hands upon us, if only the tip of his pinkie finger and allow us to feel his presence, I asked him to allow his flowing robes to gently cover us lulling us with comfort, I asked him to breath is pure clean breath upon us to give us a sense of calm and peace. We all are struggling in one way or another, the tests and trials each different but also much the same. I prayed for illnesses to be healed, for pain the be quieted, for heartache to be erased, for finances to be balanced....I asked him to take each of our thorns and strip them, much like  a florists prepares stemmed roses for a bouquet. In prayer as I lifted me and others in the name of Jesus Christ, for blessings, the word "sharing" came across my heart, it was loud and strong with  no denying that this word should be a part of my blog this morning. I thought about it for a moment and asked God, what about "sharing" do you what me to "share" and then the parable of the mustard seed came across my heart..

He set another parable before them, saying, "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field; which indeed is smaller than all seeds. But when it is grown, it is greater than the herbs, and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in its branches."

– Matthew 13:31–32, World English Bible

I asked  my father in heaven, so are you wanting me to  write about how my blog began, how you wanted me to keep on in writing the words you bless me with each day so that more can read them? I felt that this was  indeed what he was wanting from me, I felt that he wanted me to write about how important it is that we share our faith, that we speak out loud, to those in need, our feelings on him, Jesus Christ , the holy spirit and our ultimate goal, heaven. I thought about that mustard seed, when I first began this blog it was basically through  the prompting of friends, I had no idea if I had enough to expound on the snippets I placed on facebook each day. I decided to try because in my heart I felt that if my words could be of comfort to just one person each day then I was making a difference. Today my blog is 6 weeks old and has following from 9 different countries and each day I get feedback of how the message was just what one needed to get through the hell they are going through. Each of us can make a difference if we are willing to "share" if we are willing to lay down our pride or our insecurity and let others know that we have a personal relationship with our  Father in Heaven, if we are not to timid to share our feelings about and our love for our Savior, Jesus Christ, if we are willing to offer prayer when we see the need for it in someone, it does not just take place in church, it is not just for believers, it is for everyone in any situation. If the feeling of compassion crosses over your heart, share it!!! If you feel the  prompting to hug someone to show them there is hope, do it!!! If he impresses upon you to say "God bless you,  I will pray for you" don't be embarrassed, or shy....open your mouth and say it! I took the little mustard seed I had  and planted it, it is growing into a might tree, one that will wax strong and will be able to support many birds on its branches, I "share" what is presented in my heart, I take what word is given me and I write what I feel is in him that needs to be said, I trust that it will indeed touch a heart in need of hearing ! Today I pray that you will allow him to speak through you, I pray that you will take listen to the still quiet of him and let him guide you in the direction he needs you to be, if you are overcome with a strong feeling of "I feel like I should do this" it is the prompting of the Holy Spirit, don't deny him, lay down your protective shell and take a risk, God will not lead you to the edge of a cliff and allow you to fall  to your death, he will either catch you or give you wings to fly! Trust his promptings, move forward walking in his footsteps and know that it only takes a mustard seed to build a great huge tree! I love you all and pray that this day is filled with joy and laughter, that you hear our Father in Heaven and will move toward him, that you will join me "on bended knees" continuing to lift those special needs in prayer with the knowledge that his will be done:) Be safe in your doings today and make wise decisions:) Blessings !!!

Share your heart and make a mark!!!

  

  Good morning and happy Sunday, this morning as I sit outside enjoying the beauty I am amazed at how little things make me so happy. The sky is clear and blue, no gray to be seen, no angry clouds, nothing but blue as far as I can see, the sun has just begun to break and it is standing tall in all its glory, ready to give warmth and joy, the birds are singing in such a sweet melody that you know they are just happy to be alive, a gentle breeze is blowing allowing the trees to sway back and forth in a beautiful rhythm, it is quiet, no one has ventured out as of yet to begin their day and I sit here taking it all in and thanking God for allowing me another day!
     Last evening I had opportunity to have dinner and sit outside enjoying the evening and wonderful word. I had opportunity to meet someone new and got to share thoughts. As I sat there listening, sharing, laughing and yes even crying at one moment I once again thanked my Father in Heaven for my life. The lady I had chance to meet has been dealt a very ugly hand in life's card game , as we talked I looked at her, not her physical appearance, but i looked at her heart and I saw such a beautiful person, I saw love, I saw kindness, I saw strength, I saw grace....But on the outside I saw pain, I saw insecurity, I saw loneliness, and I saw defeat. In all that life had dealt her she had given up, the beauty inside was totally overshadowed by the weather. The storms in her life had all but erased her inner being! This happens so many times in life, we almost have the game won and boom, someone pulls an ace out of their sleeve, throws it on the table and once again we "lose" I see so many times, people who have been defeated so often that it becomes expected, I see so many times that people have tried, and tried and tried and with each try there is less zeal, there is less zest and finally they just accept defeat as a way of life. It saddened me to see such a beautiful spirit sitting there not representing the inside, but allowing the outside to be her way of life. I have been faced with the storms of life, we all have been battered by the wind, soaked by the rain, have slipped on the slick ground, have fallen down and wondered if we could get back up. We all have gone in to battle with our swords drawn only to have it knocked from our hands leaving us standing vulnerable and scared! It is the way in which we take cover from the storm that makes the difference, it is the way we pick ourselves up that shows how strong we are, it is the umbrella we choose to keep us dry, it is the attitude that we choose that brings us through.
     This morning as I sit here in reflection of the different roads I have traveled, at the sink holes that I had to take detour around to keep from disappearing, at all of the times that that "ace" trumped me...I thank God for giving me his love, for placing people in my life who have seen "me" who have been prompted to share with me the lives they have been dealt and how they have overcome. Today as I sit here I wonder how many times people have seen the storms of life swallowing me and have not taken time to  listen to the promptings and followed through with a smile or a kind word, a hand of acknowledgement that they know how it feels. When I left this lady last night, I can only pray that she felt better, that she felt the love of our father in heaven for allowing us to chat, I pray that as she wakes this morning that she sees her day in a new light, that she looks into the mirror and sees the "inside" that she recognizes her strengths and that she pulls that umbrella out and decides to walk in the rain without getting wet! 
     My prayer for each of us is that we recognize the beautiful, wonderful, God given blessings that are presented to us each day, that instead of telling God how big our storms are that we tell our storms how big our God is, I ask God to give each and every one of us super X ray glasses today so that we might see the inside of a person in need, that we might recognize the beauty within and be there to help slough off the grime on the outside. I pray that this will be the day that instead of seeing a need and saying oh poor such in such, that we can go to that person and through the love in our hearts make a mark! God give us the courage and the strength to take upon ourselves the ability to see need and to execute. God gives us love in our hearts to share, may you be blessed today with the "give away" may God place someone in your path that is in need of "you" May you open your eyes, follow his footsteps and share his gift of "self"! Share your heart and leave a mark:)  Blessings this day for a wonderful, beautiful eye opening, heart warming experience:) Love to each of you in Christ, amen! 

windows to the soul...

This morning, as I sit out, listening to the birds sing their wonderful songs, feeling the slight breeze on my face, eagerly awaiting the sun to appear, I am in awe of...life..the temperature is 51 degrees and the sky is a mingle of blue, grey, and salmon.  I could not ask for more right this minute:) As I have gotten older, I feel that I have gotten wiser, I feel that things that were so important to me years ago have changed and things that were not important to me then, now are at the top of the list. Funny how we change, how our thoughts change, how our morals and values change!!! This morning in prayer I asked God what I needed to do today, I asked him to lay a subject on me that would ease someone, that would give someone a new found sense of hope and a renewed faith. I know he will answer my prayer as he always does! I appreciate so  much the feedback I get from the people that this blog and my facebook messages, I appreciate so much you letting me know that the words God awoke in me are the very words that you were in need of.

In sitting here this morning I felt an overwhelming feeling of "self" come over me. Do our aging bodies really mark who we are, if we are overweight and saggy, does that really constitute what we are? Does grey in our hair really matter to God, do the wrinkles on our face really determine if we are loved or not? I think the answer to this is NO. I think what is important to our father in heaven is how we look inside, what he see in our hearts. I think he looks for love, for compassion, for caring, for kindness, and for grit! I know many people that obsess over their bodies, not for health purposes but for vanity reasons, I know many who have a love for botox to take the smile, pain, happy, sad, lines out of their faces, I know people who stress when a grey hair finds its way from beneath the color, but when I look into their eyes, no matter how good the outside looks, something is missing in the inside. They say the eyes are the windows to the soul, I see so much just by looking into eyes, one can see pain, sadness, fake, joy...all of the emotions are there if you look. Many people wear masks to try and hide what they are going through, but you can't hide the eyes. I am going to continue to work on my heart today, to give compassion when I see it is needed, you know just a touch can make a person feel better, a smile can change a really sad situation, an "I'm here" can make a world of difference! I am going to be more kind to all, and I am going to let people know I care. I am going to have "grit" in me, the "grit" it takes to openly say, "God Bless You" I think many times we say this silently to people for fear of being thought a freak...I am going to openly say, let me pray for you, God loves you, God bless you and anything else that he puts on my heart because so many times we are led to people who do not really believe this, if I can be his messenger I will be! Today I ask that you look past the outward and look into the windows, look and see what someone needs and do not be afraid to give it. God needs for us to be his messengers, I will not refuse him. I love each of you with all of my heart, I pray that this day, you will touch a heart in need just by being the beautiful person inside, that I know you are. Love is free, give some away:) God bless each of you abundantly:)