OPEN YOUR HEART!

If we know the truth of the following words and that they apply to each of us created in His image, AS WE ARE, why must the hate continue to defeat love? Where is peace?

14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.[a]
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well. -Psalm 139:14

 

Mirrored – Daily Prompt: Mirror, Mirror

The challenge:

Complete the following:  Finish this sentence: “When I look in the mirror, I . . . “

My answer?  I saw the need to change my attitude!

Did you ever find someone in your life really “pushes your buttons” so to speak?  You know what I mean:

• thinks she’s always right (or he’s always right)
• is so quick to point out that you fall short .  . .
• seems to be negative all the time
• always take the stage  . . .

Do you, in your secret heart, find that you cannot ignore this person?  Perhaps, you tell yourself they are distracting?  Tiresome?  Annoying?  Do you argue with him/her to try to set them straight?  Get them to look at things your way?

Look in the mirror:

I don’t like being the one to have to tell you this, but it might be that the reason they BUG you so is that they are reflecting your attitude back at you! That’s what I saw in my mirror!

Don’t blame or shame . . . because if you do, you’re acting the SAME way!  Not saying we do not ever need to share our concerns, problems, or challenges, but sharing and ranting aren’t the same thing.

My old driving instructor said “where you look is where you’ll head” and I couldn’t STAND IT when he said that but in life when I look down, that’s where I wind up yet when I look UP things brighten, hope comes, impossible becomes simple  . . . because I hand it off to the Lord.  He doesn’t want us to carry more than our share!  He seeks to be our personal Lord and Savior and we are to reflect Him.  Look in the mirror.  What do you see?

Seeking

Feeling:  the general state of consciousness considered independently of

particular sensations, thoughts, etc.

Knowing:  shrewd, sharp, or astute.

Rely on what you feel or what you know?  You decide.

Adventures Of The Heart – Remembering Nana

I read this quote on my cell phone and am hesitant to admit it, but though a writer with notebooks everywhere, I at first thought “who writes letters?” The quote:

To send a letter is a good way to go somewhere without moving anything but your heart. – Phyllis Theroux –

That’s my Nana!  She wrote letters.

Oh, how I loved my Nana!  In her presence, especially in our one-on- one visits, I felt beautiful!  I felt wanted!  I felt unconditionally loved! I’m not saying “poor little Martha, nobody else loved her” but simply saying that there was something extra precious about our relationship.

Oh, the stories she told of days long past, of people she’d known, of mischief she’d gotten into . . . honestly, I’m not sure many people ever got to know her as I did.  Maybe, just maybe, she felt beautiful and unconditionally loved and accepted by me as well.  She was, I can tell you that.

She was a “shut-in” much of her life and lived near the church.  I would walk over after Sunday services while Mama and Daddy had coffee hour and while my small sisters played in the church yard.  Sometimes, I’d get to stay the whole afternoon at Nana’s!  I could sit at her feet and listen to her all day.  Her health challenges made her weak but her one room apartment was just enough to manage.  Her diet was restricted but she always had special treats for me and let me just say this.  If I smiled and told Nana I loved grilled cheese with extra cheese . . . well, you’d have a hard time lifting all that gooey, warm and melty cheese!  I still  make ’em that way Nana!

She’d pull out old, old photographs and tell me all about these people who were “family” but had passed on long ago . . . even before Mama was born!  She’d sit in her comfy chair next to the bed and near the closet/kitchen and on a tiny table was pretty note paper and matching envelopes and a tattered address book.  Then there was a damp sponge and postage stamps for  sealing the flap and readying the letters for mailing.

You see, she wrote to EVERYBODY and they wrote back!  Don’t know about you, but a lot of my mail is “junk” mail.  Not my Nana’s mail.  Letters came to her from the postman every day!  Who got married, who had liver trouble, who’s cat had a litter of kittens . . . remember old Aunt Sally? . . . Remember the old days at Rye Beach?  I remember so many stories of people and places I’d never have learned about if I’d not had those delightful visits with Nana.  She passed on long ago and I don’t know what ever happened to the old letters or the tattered address book, but oh, the places we went, she and I!  So many wonderful adventures!  So many people we visited on our adventures of the heart!

Dear Readers,

Thank you so much for dropping by today.  I appreciate your company.  Please come again soon!  I’ll be sure and put the kettle on and we’ll have tea!

Very truly yours,

Martha

Top 10 Award!

I am blessed to share with you that Betty Bolden and

Jesus Is My Joy

Ministries/Devotions

has presented me with a new blog award!  I woke this morning to find that she’d nominated me for the Top 10 Award!  Thank you so much Betty!  I encourage you to visit her blog and am sure you will be blessed by her writing and her heart for Jesus!

Writing Challenge: Turn It Around

A fellow blogger invited us to share our testimony recently.  Live and Laugh With Jesus posted this challenge here.

This has made me think . . . it’s Monday as I write this and on various sites I’ve seen laments about “woe is me” as a new week starts.  Oh, I know those feelings.  Here’s the challenge!

if I let Him, the Lord will ALWAYS turn it around for me.  I’m still finding that I should let Him do this more often than I do, but life is a learning journey.  That being said, I’d like you to accept this challenge and in the comment section of this post, please share a time when you encountered Him in this way and let us rejoice in how He took “ho-hum” and turned it around for you!

Sharing these moments can bring hope to others.  Won’t you share with us?  If you would like, you are welcome to write this on your own blog and post a link in the comments section below.  I’ll edit this post and add a list of your links.  You are also welcome to share in the comment if you prefer.

Thanks for being His disciple!

Superbowl Five Sentence Story

A Patriots fan cheering for the 49ers for fun, but not entirely pationately STILL wants them to win.  I, said fan, am enjoying my solitary party and treats as much as the commercials and game itself.  While it is only halftime just now as I consider these things, one thing comes to mind.  I already know what special memory will remain with me when this game is done.  Surely that can only be the blessing of hearing children from Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT singing as the game was about to begin . . . wow.

Five Sentence Story

It had been a long week full of disappointment.  I ran a few errands and was nodded at a number of times.  I was assured my business was important to a few.  I somehow felt alone in the various noisy crowded places.  Then it was time for church and I was reminded of the love surrounding me always 🙂

I learned of the five sentence story idea from Caddo Veil  who in turn learned of it from Linda of  purpleborough I had to try it.  Check their blogs and join in the fun, won’t you?

Daily Prompt: Burning Down the House

Here;s the challenge:   “Your home is on fire. Grab five items (assume all people and animals are safe). What did you grab?”

Click on the above link to answer the question and join the challenge.  Now, as for me . . .

1. Bible
2. Cell phone
3. Computer
4. Eye glasses
5. Pocketbook

How about you?

Six Word Friday

Today?  More than I could handle . . .