Faithfully Friday

Remember today that God loves you so much He sent His Son to pay the price for you. Everything He does is for your good. John 3:16

There are times in our lives that we feel unloved. We feel like we could disappear and no one would notice. That is simply untrue; you touch someone’s heart. You have parents that love you or you have friends that check up on you.

Take inventory of your day. Who is there with you? How would they react if you called with a problem. The world may seem bleak but basic human empathy is still in great supply. Call your friend, tell him or her that you need help chances are you will hear, “whatever you need”

I may not know you personally but email me, message me through the blog or check me out on Facebook and I will do my best to help anyone in need.

Live today and everyday like it is a gift from God because it is. How are you going to thank God for his gifts today?

Your emotions are YOURS!!!! Only you control them. If you allow other peoples words and actions to control your feelings, you will feel alone in this world. Not everyone in the world is going to like you and that is ok. Get to know the person God created you to be. Love who you are and live your life on purpose for the purpose in which you were created.

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Faithfully Friday

Last night I was in the midst of my first edit for my soon to be released book. I was sitting on the porch, the child I was babysitting had left a half hour before, there was a TON of traffic, and all of a sudden I heard it.

It was like the lone sunbeam on a cloudy day that warms your heart. Through all the noise, distractions and deep concentration was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard. The church bells began to play a song I knew very well. “On Eagle’s Wings” seemed to float through the barking dogs, over the traffic sounds and make it’s way into my subconcience.

All of a sudden, four different people weighed heavily on my mind and I prayed for them.

Then these words came through me;

I prayed for you today…

I see the pain you are in and I prayed for you.
I know you don’t particularly believe in the power of prayer but I prayed anyway because I want to see your pain taken away.

I see the fight you are fighting and even though you may not think your struggle is noticed by God, it is, so I prayed for you because I know where his path can take you.

I see the pain you are in and even though you think God is punishing you, he’s not, He is crying right along side you hoping the Drs will order the correct tests, so I prayed for you and your Drs. today.

I see the pain your child’s troubles are causing you. Remember He is there with you as you fight all these battles. I prayed for you today because we all fight to fix our childrens troubles just as God stays with us until we are ready to invite HIM back into our lives.

I prayed for you today!

Today, I pray for these 4 people and for anyone who finds comfort in my words.

How can I pray for you today?

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Think about it Thursday…

If Monday is the least inspiring day of the week, why do we wait until Monday to start our goals?

True inspiration can come from just about anything. A summer leaf surfing on a gentle breeze. Any item, any word, any situation can bring with it an aha moment if you let it.

He was dozing during the sermon, when he heard those words; “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” (Genesis 28:16) He wasn’t really sure why the words spoke to him but they were on his mind for the next two weeks.

Then on the day they were prepared for tests and bad news, came the most joyous news of all. What they feared was yet another cyst or tumor was actually a baby bump. His wife, who was previousl
y told would never conceive was carrying a child. “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it.”

She grew more tired with each passing day. The words her husband uses cuts like a knife. Unsure of how much more she can take, she dreams of a life with her own personal Prince Charming. Finally, her husband confesses his relationship with her best friend. She finally found the courage to walk out and never return.

“Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it.”

Inspiration, courage, hope and dreams can come on any day, in any shape, and even through the worst situations.

How have you felt the Lord present in your life this week?

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Motivation Monday

What better motivation can a parent have than kids that get up on a Monday without poking, prodding, yelling, screaming, crying and fake illnesses?

It has been a busy weekend with electrical work being done, roofers hanging around and a graduation party for my niece. So busy that we were heading to bed at 9:30 Sunday evening. So busy that we were so tired we never heard the rain storm during the night.

Being that tired actually guarantees a great night sleep. I woke up and finished the reading I needed to do. I got my children off to school, wrote the second last chapter of my book and off to the gym I went. Unfortunately, my great night sleep did nothing to relieve the soreness in my bones from the constant go, go, go of the weekend.

Other than occasionally my children, what inspires me? Thank you for asking…

Music – for example, a very dear friend of mine posted a good morning song this morning from YouTube and that will probably be part of my morning ritual. My current work in progress was written almost entirely while listening to Christian music. I love to dance around the house while cleaning and I cannot get through a workout without upbeat music.

Reading – I read inspirational books and blogs. I belong to a few inspirational groups on Facebook and most of my friends are great about posting messages that I really need to hear that day.

Writing – just the act of writing inspires me. The words flow freely as if they are fed to me from God himself.

My husband – my husband is not a church goer or bible reader but his relationship with God is pure nature. His gift with the camera has inspired every book cover I’ve ever created.

Surround yourself with people who are most like the person you’d like to be and you will always be inspired and motivated to use your gifts for the purpose they were intended.

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What else can we do?

Every morning I have my coffee on the porch. First my hubby leaves for work. Then my son is picked up by his bus. And finally my girls leave to take the youngest to Summer School. It has been pretty relaxing getting everyone up, ready and out the door.

This morning however, the older gentleman across the street (not elderly just older than I) starts talking to me about his trip to the store. I am a good neighbor and usually talk to my neighbors but this guy and his female friend seem to be in a perpetual state of drunk and/or high. As he’s talking to me he suddenly realizes that he doesn’t remember where his female friend lives. He sees the hammock on the porch and comments that he’s sure that’s the house because he sleeps on the hammock but he can’t go on a strangers porch and turned around and walked away.

It seems very sad to me that people feel they need a daily dose of drugs and alcohol to get through the day. I know about the pain killer addiction and I get it, I really do I have been dealing with my own pain issues for the past 10 months or so.

What I don’t understand is the people who think they need drugs or alcohol to deal with the daily struggles of life. I feel like they should know that relying on these things will cause even more problems before they start. I have addicts in my family and I understand that addiction is an illness but I also believe that the initial choice to start drinking or start using was just that a choice that was made. We are all taught that the use of drugs and alcohol can lead to addiction.

It just makes me sad that people walk this path everyday and refuse to seek help. Parents are burying children they didn’t realize had problems. Children are becoming self sufficient and caring for parents because they don’t know what else they can do.

So for now I just shake my head at every tenant it seems of that upstairs apartment that seems to be from the same drug circle.

What else can we do?

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Peace and Quiet

I am currently in the middle of a crazy, crazy life. Summer is supposed to be a time of relaxing and rejuvenation. Instead I am living in a construction zone. My husband has my kitchen mostly gutted and my friend has torn off and rebuilt my roof. Shingles come today.

In all this chaos I look forward to my morning coffee on the porch. A time of solace and reflection before the roofers show up and break the silence. We are a family that needs and deserves the updates that finally have come our way.

We would do anything in our power to be sure others have what they need even if it meant giving up ours. Now we have been provided for and it feels really good.

The sun is shining, the birds are chirping and shingles are being put on my roof today. So, during this time of peace and quiet, I am thanking God for providing us with these updates that we so desperately needed.

What are you thankful for today?

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Great Day for a New Beginning

A lot has happened since my last post because, well, that’s life. I am changing my priorities and will be devoting more time to writing this summer.

Sometimes when you don’t listen to the whispering, fail to reach for your goals, let life get in the way instead of grabbing it by the horns and controlling your surroundings; sometimes you are given an opportunity for a do-over.

I am always looking for ways to learn and grow. I have joined a group called The Summer of Being in the hopes to take some steps to…
Become a better me,
Become the me I am suppose to be,
Become the me that fear is hiding inside.

A lot of people talk about a fear of failure. I am certain that I can accomplish everything I set out to do. I fear the person I might become in doing so. I don’t want to be that successful person that is snobby and condescending. My purpose in life is to uplift and empower others to be their best self. To rise above their circumstances and be who they want to be.

My goals for this summer?

Funny you should ask… I am going to finish this book and get ready for this vendor fair in September.

Simple enough right? Yup. Except that I haven’t charged my laptop in about two weeks. My house is in a construction zone and my kids seem to like it that way. I do, however, have a plan.

Don’t worry, my summer isn’t all about work either. I have a trip for Thirty-One Conference at the end of June and mid-August I get to volunteer at church camp. I also, have a few day trips planned also that are both work and play.

My summer of becoming is in full swing.

What are your plans this summer?

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