Awards, Awards, and MORE Awards!

Thank you so much to http://writingforfoodinindy.wordpress.com/  as well as http://creativetidalwave.wordpress.com/2013/04/28/love-letters/ and to http://iamforchange.wordpress.com/ for the MANY very recent blog awards!

I have fallen behind on preparing the many acceptance requirements for a variety of reason (busy busy busy) so please accept my thanks and blessings and know that I will catch up as soon as I can!

SMILING – An Acrostic About Today

Sometimes life goes along a familiar path for a while then . . .

My heart pounds as I face a brick wall.

I thought I was clever and strong.

Looking at the wall from this side still . . .

I find myself trusting the Lord, but . . .

New heart, new hope, new crack in the brick wall . . .

God provided a toe hold to climb up and begin anew!

Past, Present, and Future . . .

I can’t speak for you, but this time of year can be a challenge for me.  It is the most likely time of year I fall victim to the “crud” which I presently have  . . . aaaaachoo!  I stress about wanting to make it the perfect Christmas, and I remember loved ones from the past as well as the present . . . memories.  We aren’t always able to hold those dear ones close to us in body and hence the challenge, but they are always a part of us and since the Kingdom of God is at hand, we remain together with them always.  Delightful thought, that!   So, here is a collage with a bit of the past, present, and future of my life and heart, but it’s not complete because all of you are in my heart as well!

In Love With The Lord Facebook Page

Hey, friends!  I’ve added a link on the right hand side of this blog to make it simple for you to like and follow me on Facebook!  It’s directly beneath the “follow by email!”  See y’all there!

Two Cent Tuesday Challenge – Style

What is style?  Seems we often spend our lives trying to find that special something which sets us apart and makes others respond with a jaw dropping “wow” followed by an “I so want what he/she’s got.”   I have felt that way many times, and finally one Sunday morning, a few years ago, I found “it.”  Here’s my two cents worth!

It was a while back on a Sunday morning at 9:30 in the morning that my eyes opened in awe and wonder.  My jaw dropped, my heart changed.  All those fads and foolish attempts to present myself in a way that would knock the world flat in a resounding “she’s got it.  I want some” was redefined forever.  It was at that moment someone new to my life related a life changing event in his own.  His voice cracked as he spoke of a special anniversary.  I was close enough to him to see tears forming in his eyes.  As he spoke of what changed his universe and forever made all things new, I saw a special glow that made me forget all those fancy baubles, high-end designer duds, and the rest of it.

I don’t know what he was wearing that day, nor how he wore his hair.  Did he have on that beautiful wrist watch that gleams in the sun?  Had he remembered to comb his hair?  I can’t tell you if any of that was so.  What I saw was the light of Christ glowing from deep within his soul as he related that this day was the anniversary of the day he gave his life to Christ, accepting Him as his Lord and Savior and entered into a personal relationship with Him.  I wasn’t sure exactly what all of that meant at the time, but I knew I had to have some of that.  Goofy hair,  wrinkled, baggy butt jeans?  No matter.  My friend had style.  True style is how we present ourselves to the world.  If you have style, there’s a glow . . .  a presence . . . you leave people wanting something more.  Its cost is not monetary . . . it only costs your life.  You surrender yours, and Jesus will give you His.

Style!  I’ve got it!  You can have it too!

Giving Thanks – Two Days Early! A Praise Report!!!

Okay, I was going to save this for Thanksgiving, but like many of you, I will be cooking Thursday morning, and picking up last-minute things tomorrow and doing prep work, so here’s a praise report I’d love to share with all of you so that you may give thanks with me!

Many of you know I’m having procedures done to restore sight to my right eye, and to control an eye disease which causes improper blood flow and ruptures which can cause serious reductions in sight, pain, and obvious challenges in performing everyday tasks in the manner I’ve always done.  It is not entirely curable at this time, but there are treatments which can in some cases restore some lost sight and enable a return to “normal” life.  I’ve had mixed results and for months there’s been no measurable improvement and I’ve suffered from pain and poor vision.

On November 11th, as I went up to communion, one of my priests put his hand on my head and eyes and prayed for my healing.  Many people have been praying for me for some time including many of you though you may not have been aware of my situation aside from my provision challenge.  The eye disease has made seeking provision all the more difficult.   I’ve been battling this disease for over four years now.

By later that afternoon, November 11, I realized “wow, my pain’s gone.  Come to think of it, it hasn’t hurt since I left church.  Not a bit of pain.”  This past week, I began to notice that my brand new prescription reading glasses were not working as they had just a couple of weeks ago.  My reaction was “oh, no.  It’s getting worse.”  I admit, a tiny voice inside me said “next time I see my eye doctor, I need my prescription checked.  I need to know if  . . . ” but I didn’t pay it much mind.  Suddenly, early last week, I realized a very surprising thing.  I’d been, off and on, mistakenly wearing a pair of old over-the-counter readers which were a very low “strength” and could see better with them.

I hate to admit it, but the pieces of the puzzle still hadn’t come together until I went to church Sunday.  As I held our hymnal in my hands I realized that I could see the words and notes better with no glasses on then I had with any corrective eye wear in a long time.  As I went to communion, a stirring in my soul happened as Fr Chris approached me with communion, I detected a hesitation in him but he didn’t stop to pray for me this time.

I found out later that he’s silently seeked the Lord’s guidance about prayer for healing and the Lord said “I’ve done what I have done.”  Friends, healing comes in all sorts of ways.  Sometimes in an instant and sometime in a way entirely different from what we asked, and at other times gradually.  This week I have realized my sight, still far from perfect, is dramatically better than it’s been in a very long time!

I don’t know what the Lord’s ultimate plan is in the big picture, but I have no pain after weeks of steady pain in my diseased right eye and my vision is for certain stronger.  My left eye is “legally blind” since birth, so I have wrestled with a lot of fear on this for some time now.  In the last few days now I find I keep picking things up to read them because I can!  I’ve been a “bookworm” my entire life, but in the last 4 years I’ve had to try not to be since it was so difficult.  This week, it’s hard to focus on practical things because I can see better, folks!  I truly can!  I’ve been concerned about my ability to work and earn a living and not simply due to the economy, but due to my sight. I am not afraid.  As I close, I want to share with you a scripture passage which the Lord placed on my heart 8 years ago in a time of challenge and which He has placed in my path steadily since that time.  Please rejoice with me, continue to pray for this weak and flawed human who loves her Lord so much, and believe!

Jeremiah 29:11

¹¹ 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.

What Color Is Peace?

Your thoughts, words and deeds are painting the world around you.  - Jewel Diamond Taylor -

I’m not overly political, I must admit and I’m taking no side in this post but this quote gave me pause for thought.  It seems I can’t pick up a paper, click on a website, or listen to television or radio without angry thoughts becoming angry words and deeds.

It is always somebody’s fault . . . or somebody else’s . . . does it matter in the end who the blame ultimately belongs to?  We are changing the world around us with fighting in the White House and fighting in the churches and fighting in the grocery store parking lot and the classrooms where our children learn . . .

Where’s it getting us?  What did our forefathers fight for?

What color is peace?  

My “REALITY Award”

Wow, a “Reality Award” for me?

What an honor.  I previously announced this but didn’t have an opportunity to complete the “acceptance” in the way I wanted to, so here goes.  First I’d like to once again thank “My Blog” and our dear friend “loopy” for this delightful gift.

As her own post about this indicated, there are no rules, but I’m going to follow suit to some degree with her own acceptance.  I may also, given the fact of no rules, honor some with a nomination who do not usually participate in the awards due to time constraints.  If that is your situation, simply snag a copy of the award and display it on your blog.  I may also give a few now and give some later . . . since there are no rules.  So difficult to pick just a few of you since I love you all!  There were some questions she was asked to answer and I will answer the same ones myself:

1. If you could change something what would you change?

Well, I have to admit that aside from a smaller waistline, it would probably be to have said “yes” to a personal relationship with Jesus much earlier in my life.

2. If you could repeat an age, what age would it be?

If I can’t go back being wiser than I was the first time around, I’d rather stay put, thanks just the same.

3. What one thing really scares you?

 My problem with my eyesight/fear of going blind.

4. What one dream have you not completed yet and do you think you will be able to complete it.

I dream of writing a book (several actually) and having it published by an established publishing house (as opposed to self-published) and I believe it will take place . . . if it is God’s will, He will lead me.

5. If you could be someone else for the day, who would you be?

Mary, mother of Jesus while she carried our precious Lord inside her in human form.  Wow, you know? 

 

Now, my nominees for today:

 

1. 1.     http://foreverpoetic.me/
2. 2.     http://caddoveil.com/
3. 3.     http://crustybreadblog.com/
4. 4.     http://trishasflyingmeatballs.wordpress.com/
5. 5.     http://jesusmyjoy.wordpress.com/
6. 6.     http://revelationsinwriting.wordpress.com/
7. 7.     http://hodgepodge4thesoul.wordpress.com/
8. 8.     http://iftodaywehear.wordpress.com/
9. 9.     http://mrbnd.wordpress.com/
10. 10. http://keziahcarrie.com/

Christmas Is Not Until December!!!

Okay, so tell  me something.  Does it even remotely annoy anyone else to hear Christmas music in mid October?  Does anyone else think that to play it this early has NOTHING to do with giving GLORY TO THE KING OF KINGS?

I’m talking about CHRISTmas here, you see.  Not the ho ho ho thing which is fun for kids but NOT related to CHRISTmas at all.  Sorry, peeps I’m finding that Jesus is being cut out of the picture, so to speak, way AND I DO MEAN WAY too often!

So, is it:

Or is it even:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Because it’s sure not yet:

Shhh!

When you have nothing to say, it does not matter how many syllables you use.