Struggle & Strife

All around

Struggle

And

Strife

Demanding rights

With an incessant need

To always be

Right

Attempts at controlling

Others

While failing to control

Self

Without humility

There remains only

Struggle

And

Strife

God Thoughts No. Sixty Two

I just love how the moment I am tempted to be 

thoroughly annoyed with a person;

Holy Spirit reminds me that He loves them 

just as much as He loves me.

I then allow all annoyance to fall away 

and I am restored to Peace.

God has no favorites.

He loves all of mankind completely and equally.

People may not like it,

But that is the Truth of it.

It is because of God’s perfect Love 

that Christ came.

While people may view the saying,

“Jesus hates sin but loves the one committing the sin,”

as cliché, 

it is absolutely true as well.

Jesus said that the world

 would recognize His followers 

by their Love for one another 

~and others.

He continually reminds me of this.

And as I am constantly aware of His presence in me,

I am better able to emulate His Love;

Thus, proving to the world, that Love truly does win.

He IS Amazing God!

God Thoughts No. Sixty One

I have shared previously (and numerously)

 that several years ago the Lord began 

a paradigm shift in my thinking of and 

in my relationship with Him. 

In the midst of it, 

He told me to 

throw out everything I had ever been taught about Him 

and to allow His Spirit to show me who He really is.

As I have presumed to know nothing 

except Christ, 

it has become increasingly clear 

that because I, indeed, know Jesus, 

I know everything. 

As Holy Spirit reveals things to me (daily), 

I actually come into the fullness of the knowledge of Him.

It is a breathtaking and amazing experience. 

To describe this experience as “sublime” 

only begins to hint at the extraordinariness of it.

And equally amazing and exciting is that

 this knowledge of Him is available to every person.

Jesus came to make God accessible to everyone! 

He took what was “difficult” and made it 

SIMPLE!

It really IS as easy as saying, 

“Yes! I want to know You, Lord!”

He can’t help but answer the sincere heart-cry to know Him more.

In fact, He has implanted that desire into every living human being.

 And when that person responds 

to what He has already placed inside of him, 

Holy Spirit springs into action; 

exceedingly glad to be of service!

AMAZING GOD!

Want to know Him more?

Then ask!!! 

He WILL deliver!

Hallelujah!

God Thoughts No. Sixty

When life becomes about nothing 

but Jesus, 

the Rest becomes easy.

These days

I find myself being tempted

to second guess

everything I am doing in my life.

Then Holy Spirit reminds me

that I am doing things according to

Him

and all is well within me once again.

Jesus said, 

"Take My yoke upon you.

 Let Me teach you, 

because I am humble and gentle, 

and you will find rest for your soul. 

For My yoke fits perfectly, 

and the burden I give you is light." 

Matthew 11:29-30 

The world says, 

"You must do what you have to do in order to survive." 

But what I have learned to be True

is that all I have to do is

trust HIM

and He takes care of things.

His ways are as numerous as the stars in the sky

and as diverse as all of creation.

He knows the best ways 

to bring things about in our lives.

His ways are Perfect

and no one will ever convince me otherwise.

Hallelujah!

God Thoughts No. Fifty Nine

I presume to know nothing -

except...

Jesus

 And He is 

~ Everything!

Dance Recital Tribute

This post is a video of my youngest daughter's solo performance at her yearly dance recital.

It is a tribute to my mom, her Nammie (grandma) who passed away September 7, 2010.

I am very proud of her!

The song is "One Step at a Time" by Four Year Strong and I have included the lyrics below the video.

Sometimes it's hard to say the right thing

The right way on the hardest day of your life

Breathe in, breathe out, it'll be okay

Breathe in, breathe out, I know it's hard to say

And every year November gets closer

And every year it gets a little bit colder

Breathe in, breathe out, it'll be okay

Be strong, hold on, make it through the day

One step at a time

One foot in front of the other

I'm gonna get through this one way or another

Cause I know it's warmer where you are

Cause no matter how far the view

I still always look up to you

Sometimes it takes a second to sink in

That your life is never gonna be the same again

Breathe in, breathe out, it'll be okay

Breathe in, they say the pain will fade away

And every year November gets closer

And every year it gets a little bit colder

Breathe in, breathe out, it'll be okay

Be strong, hold on, make it through the day

One step at a time

One foot in front of the other

I'm gonna get through this one way or another

Cause I know it's warmer where you are

Cause no matter how far the view

I still always look up to you

I'll never forget the day my heart fell from my chest

It was the moment that I said goodbye

And I laid your body to rest

I'll never take this life for granted

I'm living it for two

And since you're always the one who sang the songs

And I'll be singing this one for you

One step at a time

One foot in front of the other

I'm gonna get through this one way or another

Cause I know it's warmer where you are

Cause no matter how far the view

I still always look up to you

I'll always look up to you

Bridegroom

Wednesday evening has become the evening that my husband and I look forward to.

It is the night when the children are out for a few hours 

and it’s just the hubby and me 

(and the animals of course).

I have never been a woman to plan time away from her children, 

but instead, have learned to treasure and covet every moment with them 

(that’s another post for another time),

 but I do enjoy Wednesday evenings with my hubby!

Some Wednesdays we have really great conversation 

and catch up with each other on all that’s been going on in our lives;

 comparing notes, laughing, and sometimes crying together.

Some Wednesdays are “one-sided” conversations 

with one of us venting while the other listens.

And some Wednesdays are spent side-by-side on the sofa 

silently watching a movie while holding hands and simply “being” together.

Last night was one of the holding hands, movie nights. 

As my hubs reached over to hold my hand 

I looked at him and mentally poured my love out to him. 

He must have felt it 

because when he looked over at me, 

I could feel his love too. 

No words were needed. 

We simply sat, poured and received 

(all while watching a movie!).

As I was reflecting on it this morning, 

the Lord reminded me of how my marriage 

reflects my relationship with Him.

Some days the Lord and I  have great two-way conversations 

and some days I spout and vent.

Sometimes He does all the talking to 

(and through) me 

and sometimes we simply sit and “be” 

while pouring out our Love for one another.

In His infinite wisdom, 

God sent Jesus so that we could relate to Him 

and have personal relationship with Him.

 Jesus calls Himself the Bridegroom 

because a marriage is designed to be the most intimate of all relationships.

 And He desires intimacy with each of us.

Jesus is amazing!

He is Lover, friend, husband, daddy, healer, counselor;

 He is our All-in-All.

Do you know Him in this way?

If not, 

you can!

 It is never too late. 

He remains constantly by your side, 

waiting for you to tell Him 

that you desire to know Him more.

You won’t be sorry –

Simply say,

"I do"!