Tag: heart

  • Supply and Demand

    And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus,” Philippians 4:19.     

    Do I really believe that He will supply all my needs; some of my needs; a few of my needs? Which is it? There’s a huge difference between meeting/supplying all, some, or just a few of my needs. Where do you stand in this conundrum?

    Do I say I believe and then continue on in my own way operating within my own agenda? Seems to me if I believe those words in Philippians 4:19 that peace and rest would be the result. Worry, distress, discord, and doubt would exist far, far away from me.

    I recently attended Breathe Christian Writers Conference for the first time. The conference had been on my radar screen for years, but the opportunity didn’t present itself until this year. It took a short time upon entering the doors to KNOW that I was in the right place at the right time. His time; His place; with encouraging like-minded people surrounding me. A haven and sanctuary awaited me. My mind, body, and soul became infused with inspiration, motivation, information, and a burning desire to write my story. Even if my story is messy, unorganized, unorthodox—it is My Story. The story God gave me and expects me to share. You see, I am witness to the fact that He does meet all my/your needs. He prompted me to follow through with registration, planning, and showing up. You show up and God will supply the rest. I can vouch for that!

    His storehouse appears to be plentiful. No shortage of positive items to dish out such as grace, peace, and mercy. I need only ask and in asking believe the riches will be mine.

    Thoughts to ponder; questions to consider:

    • How about you? What needs do you have in your life right now?
    • Do you believe that God can supply those desires for you? If so, what thoughts and prayers need to be on your lips and in your heart?

    *****

  • Come to Me

    Come To Me                     

    Are you weary?
    Burdened beyond words?
    Rest is found in Him.
    In Him alone.
    Freely, generously without question.

    I can learn from Him.
    He is my Teacher; I am the student;
    ever learning,
    ever failing,
    then ever learning some more.

    He is gentle,
    humble in heart.
    Sweet, blessed, essential
    Rest is found in Him.
    He can satisfy my longing soul
    and fill an empty heart.

    thoughts taken from Matthew 11:28-29

    *****

  • Happy St. Paddy’s Birthday to my Daughter!

    Who knew that over 30 years ago my husband and I would be blessed with such joy? Joy came in the form of the birth of our first (and only) daughter, Amanda Sue. Until the birth of a child infuses your life, words fail to convey the awesomeness of such an event.   Amanda Birthday Collage 2

    Children do not come with an instruction manual. There are no warning labels attached to those tiny, perfectly formed fingers and toes. When their first breath or cry comes forth, your breath and heart pauses. What does come is an overflowing joy, awe, and fear of messing up this parenting role.

    As a second-time mom (the first, our son, appeared on the scene just 13 months earlier), I knew the basics. I understood the initial pain in childbirth, the post-partum depression, sleepless nights, endless feedings and change of diapers. Yet all those potentially negative aspects paled in comparison with the ultimate joy of bringing forth a living, breathing, precious human being.

    All that to say, Steve and I are eternally grateful to the Giver of Life and Light. He blessed us then and continues to bless us as we watch our grown up daughter. Amanda, your sparkling, beautiful eyes, boundless joy and energy continue to ignite all those around you. God blessed you with intelligence, ingenuity, love and concern for people and animals. I cannot imagine life without you and the special spot you hold within my heart. Love you to the moon and back again, hugs and love from Mom and Dad.  Happy Birthday!!!  

     *****

  • How’s the Weather?

    My friend posted a comment on Facebook, “What a beautiful day! Praise God from whom all blessings flow … God’s beauty is apparent in all weather conditions.” While some may complain about the cold and ice, she chooses to be positive and uplifting. Finding beauty can sometimes be a chore.      IMG_20150103_092214311_HDR

    You see, she’s home in the frigid, icy, white conditions up North in Michigan while my husband and I took a vacation down south. She could choose to be negative, but she doesn’t operate that way. For me, temperatures were warm enough to wear shorts and sandals. She and others didn’t note comments of jealously, but rejoiced with me.

    We can find beauty anywhere with an open heart. I’ve come to realize that beauty, as well as joy, doesn’t have to be contingent on circumstances or our environment. Joy is a choice. We choose to find beauty which leads to joy within.

    •  Look around you. Name a few things you see that make you think of “beauty.”
    • What type of emotions or feelings come forth as you view your surroundings?

    Dear God, thank you for Your handiwork in creating such beauty. We have so much to be thankful for! I want to be present in every moment and acknowledge the part You play in my daily life. Amen.

  • Beautiful people

    Beautiful People (Copy)

    “Sometimes people are beautiful. Not in looks. Not in what they say. Just in what they are”—Markus Zusak.

    Today’s society relies so much on exterior beauty as a compass for determining worth and physical attractiveness. Size matters. Fitting into a “0-1-2” is considered lovely or glamorous. If the path to accomplish this goal leads to emotional trauma and anorexia, this is not healthy or appropriate.

    When faced with a decision regarding a suitable warrior, shepherd boy David was chosen. Age was against him. He was not extremely tall or built large physically. In fact, Goliath towered over young David. Anyone could see that he posed no match for the Philistine giant. Other than battling wild animals to fend off destroying his flock, David possessed no war medals. Yet, God counted him a worthy defender of the Israelites. David’s inner strength and victory came from his commander and chief: God.

    Women and men look on the outside, but God looks on the inside. What’s beneath the surface is the stuff that equals courage. Is there evidence of love, joy, peace, long-suffering, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control in my life? (Galatians 5:22, 23)

    I want to be beautiful—beautiful on the inside; what I am not just who I say I am. To do this, my actions should reflect my words. My words reflect what’s in my heart and mind. It’s what’s on the inside that counts.

    Dear God, Thank you for providing the model for beauty. You sacrificed Your only Son so that I could enjoy life to the fullest. I want to be worthy of this ultimate gift by reflecting beauty from the inside out. You are more concerned about what’s in my heart.

    What character qualities are you cultivating?

     *****

     

  • The Transformation Project

    This year, our local Word Weavers writers group embarked upon a mission of compiling an anthology book. The theme would be “Transformation.” For some odd reason, the idea didn’t excite me—at least not at first.    image001 (Copy) (2)

    Most of the submissions were already turned in, critiqued, and accepted before I decided it would be a good idea to get with the program and come up with something for the book. I searched my archives and found the perfect journal article. My son.

    My son was transformed later in his teens—(you’ll just have to read my story to find out about the before and after details). Little did I know that during that whole upsetting ordeal that God was transforming my heart. Transforming it from independence on self and dependence on the only wise God. I didn’t even realize this story had evolved into a double transformation. One in my dear son’s heart and one close to home: me.

    Maybe you’ve experienced deep grief in your soul in the past. Or, maybe you’re experiencing it right now. I invite you to take a look at the stories enclosed within the covers of our new release, The Transformation Project. The book is available in both paperback and Kindle format.

    P.S. the title of my story is: I Hope He’ll Come Home.

    Dare to tell about a time of #transformation in your life. #WordWeavers W MI authors did. https://amzn.to/1d195NW

  • Thoughts after the Boston Marathon bombings

    How do we make sense of hate crimes such as the Boston bombings this week? Crimes that maim and even kill innocent people and alter lives forever?

    My finite mind will never reason it out. There is no justification for senseless, needless killings. Humans have free-will choices. Many choose to use their choices to do good. Unfortunately, there will always be those who choose evil.

    “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?” — Jeremiah 17:9/NLT.

    And what about those who wake up this morning with no son, daughter, sister, or brother? What about the injured with missing limbs, brain or head trauma?

    How do we counsel them? What words could possibly ease their pain?     Comfort one another

    Amidst this horrific situation, God stands ready to comfort, to extend his caring, loving arms. To wrap those arms around bleeding limbs & hearts. God’s love is deep and strong — able to shelter the worst storms. He extends his hands and says, “Come to me, my bruised child. I will ease your pain.”

    “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God … but this happened that we might not rely on ourselves, but on God” — 2 Corinthians 1:3-5, 9.

  • Who do you think of first?

    “Do not think first of the desires of your heart, but think first of delighting yourself in your God! If you have accepted Him as your Lord, He is yours, so delight in Him & then He will give you the desires of your heart” – Charles Spurgeon.

  • How do I love thee?

    Let me count the ways …

    Toy trains hidden beneath the chair
    Smudges on the glass
    Whispers in my ear,
    “Nana, time to get up!”

    Boat rides
    Wagon rides and playground dates
    Bibs, blocks & bubbles
    Picture books and color crayons
    Soft blankets, stuffed animals & dolls

    Absent … for a time
    Someone to water flowers & herbs
    Table setter, dishwasher
    Pancake batter stirrer
    Filler of animal bowls to the brim & beyond

    Counting the days
    ’til we meet again
    To fill that grandchild-spot
    deep within my heart

    Love you, Nana

  • Fashion Tip for the Day

    “I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels” — Isaiah 61:10.

    What better garments than a garment of salvation or a robe of righteousness? No one could be better clothed than with the adorning described above.

    Yet, I still fuss and worry about my hair and makeup, about coordinating the top with the bottom. I shouldn’t be concerned about whether the fashionistas would approve or not.

    Isaiah, the prophet, speaks of internal clothing about joy & praise, salvation & cleansing …precious jewels from within vs. any external covering. The results are astounding as when a priest is properly outfitted in service or when a bride dresses for her special day. The exciting part is that even though the results occur inside of a person’s heart and mind, external results can also be seen.

    God can “dress” you in beautiful garments when we delight and rejoice in him. Are you allowing him to clothe you every day?

    Dear God, I confess that oftentimes I’m more concerned about my outward appearance and neglect my inward beauty. If I take the time to be with you alone, my outward beauty will shine for all to see.