Category: Gratitude

(June 2023) Investigating Truths…

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What is Church, anyway?

Is it the building, or is it the people?

Sometimes, it can seem cold and desolate…

… like the frozen peaks of a mighty mountain range. Sadly, little can survive there.

What about finding church in nature?

Can all that quite beauty and solitude become a church, of sorts? Meditating in peace, while trying to safely navigate this lost and fallen world?

Can Church be found in a book, but not in a heart?

What about where 2 or more are gathered?

Do I fit into the Church, or is the Church supposed to reside within Me?

Google says that the Bible mentions the word Church about 120 different times. 

Somebody on Google also says that there are estimated to be between eight and 16 million actual church buildings in the world.

Another person says that there are 37 million churches throughout the world.

Oh yeah, and I also read that there are more than 45,000 Christian denominations in the world.  I think I found all this information in under 5 minutes on the great World Wide Web.  What started out as my morning quiet time in the word, turned into 2 days of trail walks, another day pondering my own church experiences, and then finally, the above mentioned 5 minutes of “Google is your friend”!

Honestly, at this point, I was feeling like a deer caught in someone’s proverbial headlights!  I know we all believe that google is our friend, but let me tell ya, not only is it your friend, but EVERYBODY’S friend!  Electronic Overshare Overload is what I will consider reality!  Jokes aside, the web can be a great resource, within reason.  Too much of a good thing can be not so good for us. Well, at least that’s how that old saying goes, anyways.

I am realizing that I am not interested in what the WWW thinks, nor am I certain as to where I stand with my own beliefs, regarding this subject. 

However, here is the awesome truth about faith…  I do believe in WHO God is and what He says to me!  If I am to believe that the Bible is 100% truth, it goes to show that I will find the honest answers to my questions within this very book, right?  Within this one book are my answers, written down simply and clearly, assuming I am truly seeking the HONEST answer. 

With this truth upon my heart, I am embarking on a journey of knowledge, that I may see with clarity a Godly understanding of Church, His purpose, and how I fit into the body of Christ (His Church).

You know I will not go all the way to some clarity, without returning with some really great stories for you all.  Keep a weathered eye out for me, and I will see you on the (metaphorical) flip side…

(2023) What She Thought She Saw…

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     The whole day had quite simply sucked! 

After the grocery shopping debacle that morning, her good mood had soured and gained a downward run that she knew would not improve.  Her shopping cart wheel had given out in just the right spot coming off of the curb in front of the store letting everything in it simply fly, full force, into a passing car in the parking lot. 

After completely re-shopping, off of her crumpled receipt that had a piece of old chewing gum in it, she hurried home in an attempt to unload before her youngest child awoke from a very brief fake nap.  

Driving home, the officer did not appreciate the narrative she reeled off as her excuse, giving her a speeding ticket anyway. 

Once home, groceries unpacked and children playing, she tried to find solace in a piece of chocolate cake that she had reserved on top of the microwave the night before, only to discover that the cat had peed on the front of the microwave. And yes, she had already eaten the cake when she discovered this bit of information. It had been one of those days! 

When she walked into the room to check on her children as they played, she was certain that she heard her 5-year-old say to her Barbie doll, “You #@*ch!”

In shocked horror, the stressed out young mother began to let loose with a scolding lecture regarding language.  Looking up from the dollhouse in confusion, her daughter asked, “Mommy, if I can’t call this a bench, then what am I supposed to call it?” 

Perspective!

     I so want to go back to having the perspective and imagination of a child, without all the grown-up things that derail the good stuff. 

That’s a perfect world, which this is not, but the beauty of the human soul is that it can learn, recover, forgive, and grow. 

I am growing again!

(2024) Truthful Tuesday…

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While selecting an image for this morning’s post, I had an epiphany, of sorts…

Sometimes, we get stuck in a miracle rut! You know, thinking of miracles as a singular earth shattering occurrence that all can be amazed at, in only an instant!

One might think that the miracle for this little girl, occurred over 40 years ago, upon a darkened highway, but you’d be wrong…

…she was!

God, in only his wisdom, is now revealing the true miracle of that lost child, within the woman you see before you…

She could be a stranger, or perhaps not… it might be you, a family member or friend… anyone really!

God’s held onto my stubborn heart down many long highways,

pursued this wanderer through the wastelands of her own making,

removing detours, repairing breakdowns and healing wounds I thought would be my undoing…

and He loves me, unconditionally!

Just believe!

His miracles will reveal themselves upon the horizon of each new morning, if we will do this one simple thing… believe!

Epiphany = Each and every human soul’s miracles have been in the journey this whole time!!!

(2024) Three Guesses…

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Daily writing prompt
What’s your favorite month of the year? Why?
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Use your heart, use your eyes,

Look for meaning between my lines,

If you know me then you know the answer,

If you have me figured out, go on and give it a gander.

Have a cookie while you think…

for into your brain, the answer might sink.

(2024) Today…

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Give over your worries

Cast off your fears

and let go of yesterdays

for they are no longer changeable…

Receive today as such a gift

Live it like you’ll never see it again

Love it like you could lose it

and hope for a beautiful tomorrow…

Trade your worries

your sorrows

and all of your fears,

for a hope and a bright future…

He who is so much more than you can ever imagine

Will fulfill his promise to us, in us, and for us…

“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.” Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

(2023) Old Toys…

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Just the other day, from out of nowhere, came a happy memory of one of my favorite toys from childhood, my Hippity Hop!  I was born on a farm and aside from my horse, my favorite toys were ones I could ride on.  I have many memories of bouncing around the yard and pasture on that thing, and boy it must have been made of magic rubber because it never sprung a leak, that I can remember. 

When I thought on it a bit, I realized that for the life of me, I cannot remember whatever happened to my favorite toy.  As I pondered this, more memories of toys that brought me joy came to mind.  Some of them came to tragic ends, as some toys do, when we are too hard on them or just don’t take care to protect them.  Others, however, I quite honestly cannot remember what became of them. 

It occurs to me that people are kind of like toys, in the sense that we sometimes, for whatever the reason, lose track of people that we once loved and held dear.  Sometimes I feel like the child, and at other times I have felt like the toy!  Instead of this thought leading me, or you for that matter, into the negative, I want to share an insight with you. 

I have a soft spot in my heart for those little old fellows that own huge pieces of land simply teeming with old things…some rusted beyond repair, while others may yet be restored and reused.  The point is that they simply refused to let go of anything that might one day be saved. They never stops loving and dreaming about bringing the beauty back to those old things.  It doesn’t really matter if the old man ever gets them restored.  I am just encouraged by him always hoping and dreaming. 

I am so glad that God will never get tired of me!  He will never forget that I am there, or nudge me aside with His boot.  God never stops believing in me, no matter how damaged or dinged up I become.  The Masters hands are always mending, rebuilding, and restoring me to how He sees me…His own!!!!!

Book or Books?

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Daily writing prompt
What book are you reading right now?
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However strange it may seem, my reading usually involves multiple books at the same time. No, I’m not a marathon reader, nor do I have magic eyeballs that let me read two books simultaneously.

When I say that I read multiple books, what I mean is that I have trouble only reading a single book, one by one.

I read my bible each morning, and then I usually have between one and three other books that I take turns with, chapter by chapter. If it’s a fun fiction, I might power read through it, burying myself under blankets with a cup of tea.

My problem is, of you wish to consider it a dilemma, I don’t usually read simple stories. I have a passion for the really big Saga stories, for diving deep into something, and/or reading on topics that really make you think about what lies beneath the words written. This means I have to take a break from a tougher topic, long enough for it’s meaning to sink in, if you know what I mean.

Right now, I’m reading The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis, as well as the Dragonlance Chronicles by Margarette Weis and Tracy Hickman. The first is not an easy read, and the second is an action packed, imaginative Fantasy series with everything from elves to mighty knights in shining armor, riding on the backs of silver dragons.

I know it seems like a rather odd combination, but hey… don’t judge this Willy Wonka brain! I can’t help it… it’s just what I do.

Here, take one or two of my cookies…

You can dip them in your coffee or tea. Happy reading!

(2023) Note to Self…

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Photo by Engin Akyurt on Pexels.com

Doubt

I read somewhere that doubts were like little fears trying to come to life, or something like that. It makes sense if you think about it for a moment.

I guess when I have doubts about my writing ability, that can be seen as the same thing as fear of failure or rejection.

When I have doubts that we will ever get beyond one step above homelessness, isn’t that the same thing as fearing God will let me down… that He’s forgotten me, or simply left me here?

Some call it doubt, some call it fear, and most often, you’ll hear me call it a Rabbit Hole.

Whatever we choose to call it, we all face obstacles that can cause us to doubt ourselves, and our fear of failing to overcome sends us down all sorts of rabbit holes to try and wriggle out of things.

I think the bottom line is whether we have enough faith, or maybe enough courage, and/or enough inner fortitude to rise above the things we face.

I think it is a good idea to regularly remind myself to do some self-checks of who and what I am… to God, to others, but very importantly, to myself! If I don’t believe that I am valuable and worthy of love, how can I believe that God feels that way about this daughter of His? Does that make sense? If I don’t I am worthy enough to serve God, it makes it very difficult for me to step out in faith when He asks it of me, because I get too caught up in doubt.

So, for a healthy reminder to regularly sweep out my doubt closet, Note To Self #12 is from one of my favorite authors…

“We are what we believe we are”. C.S. Lewis

Just to make sure I have brought my point across about doubt and about believing in ourselves, I’ve included a song by Lauren Daigle called You Say. I hope to leave you with a reminder for those who need it…

Preferably, the adulting part…

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Daily writing prompt
What part of your routine do you always try to skip if you can?
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Sometimes, one must simply call it like it is, you know?

As per societies rules about routines and such, we all get up every morning, and obediently slip into our adulting patterns… day after day after day. Ewwwww!

Of course I’m going to try getting out of adulting, if at all possible… wouldn’t you?

So just remember, if you see me adulting… well, I’m possibly faking it!

Cookie?

Photo by Marta Dzedyshko on Pexels.com

(2024) I’m Sorry, That’s Not On My Bucket List…

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Daily writing prompt
Do you need time?
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As soon as today’s prompt appeared on the screen, a song popped into my head, oddly, from something I’d seen the other day… but, for the life of me, I can’t remember where. What’s funny is that it seems a rather fitting answer to the question being asked. Well, sort of, anyway.

While it’s not fully what my personal response might be, I think the song was so popular (and probably still is) because it’s how many people feel, at some point in their lives.

Looking back from where I stand now, its glaringly obvious that I didn’t understand the reality of time, the way I do now. Probably, because I was busy being wild and free! Ahhh, the joyful ignorance of youth…

But, time itself, has a way of sneaking up on one… and then running them over, as it speeds past.

What I’ve come to discover is that no amount of needed, wanted, added, or borrowed time is fully used to its full potential…

I think we’re much better off using the time we have, instead of always dreaming and wishing for more…

at some point, that’s no longer going to be an option!

Here, take some cookies…

I picked all the sand off, I promise!