There is positivity floating all around, if one takes the time to look for it!
While I may not have a large and/or extended family, when it comes to genetics, I’ve actually a huge family tree.
You see, I was adopted into an enormous family. Not only do I have my own husband and children, but I am also one of many sisters and brothers. Fortunately, I am a part of the family of God, so at any given moment, I’m being prayed for and/or being gifted something directly from my heavenly Father.
Sometimes God works through my husband, while at other times He may choose to act through one of my children, or a brother or sister in Christ. Still yet, there are those times when God chooses to act through a complete stranger; someone completely unaware that they are being used to complete a task for God.
At times, the positive things done by a family member may seem rather small and insignificant. Take for example, my husband will often surprise me by picking up a special food item that’s gluten-free, dairy-free, and safe. It may not seem like a big deal, til you factor in how I don’t like to leave the apartment until needs force me to venture out. My husband often does things to make my life easier.
Now, there are things that are much bigger positive’s than others. Like when my daughter makes it a point to face-time me each week, so that I can have special MeeMaw chat’s with my grandbaby. These video chats are the highlight of my week.
there’s a positive thing that I get from you, each and every day, when we interact with one another. We read others writings, share some of our own, and leave comments back and forth together. For me, that is considered positive family connection… as I consider everyone here on WordPress to be my family, in a manner of speaking.
Let’s consider these cookies as my positive offering …
MeeMaw’s Kitchen is the best place to share a meal, share some laughs, and leave feeling fully loved!
Along with walking away, carrying a full belly of homecooked goodness, the only cost for said meal is your time! And the beauty of it is, I’m always open!
Whether it’s a meal, or maybe just a cookie, you will know that you are loved unconditionally!
My journey is far from over. There are many directions my path may take me, but they all lead to the same place… home.
I’m so far from where I was just last year. There’s no telling where I’ll be this time next year, let alone in 10 years.
It would be lovely to be further along in my publishing journey, but who’s to say. Life doesn’t come with a playbook, as we discover early on in our lives. Just a good number of road signs, traffic lights, and fender benders.
One learns early in life that nothing is for certain, no path written out in stone, and no guarantees that we won’t come out on the other side, unscathed.
There is hope, there is faith, and there is love for one another. Aside from that, all bet’s are off. When you come to fully understand this, there is great peace in taking each day as it comes. One day at a time, moment by moment, so we don’t miss the beauty in the journey. It is there, you know, if you search it out!
How is one to know the proper time to put the ‘ in the word? It’s very confusing to young readers like myself.
While I understand the logic of possession, where you use the ‘ to reflect that whatever it is, the item belongs to it. But then they go and throw in the side rule that says it’s also happens to be a shortened version of it is.
They have a whole list of words for this adorable little side rule, such as, you are = you’re, they are= they’re, and we are = we’re. These are just for starters. There’s a whole list of them, like the one I just used. It goes on and on.
The more I tried to understand the use of ‘ , the more confused I became. I guess it’s time t0 ask Mr. McGoogle why we’ve added all the extra ‘s’s to our vocabularies…
AI Overview
It’s is a contraction for “it is” or “it has” (e.g., “It’s raining”). Its (no apostrophe) is the possessive form, meaning “belonging to it” (e.g., “The dog wagged its tail”). A quick tip: If you can replace the word with “it is,” use it’s; otherwise, use its.
Detailed Breakdown
It’s (with apostrophe) = Contraction
Use this when you mean it is or it has.
Examples: It’s cold outside. It’s been a long day.
Its (no apostrophe) = Possessive
Use this to show ownership or belonging, similar to his, her, or their.
Examples: The company updated its logo. The tree lost its leaves.
Why this answer doesn’t really help us, at all!
I already understand how to decide if I want to say it is, or it’s… but, what about all that possession stuff? All the ai wants to say is that little tiny bit about a tree?
Come on! It’s time to scroll a bit further…
According to Grammarly,
“The difference between its and it’s comes down to function: its shows possession, while it’s is a contraction of it is or it has. Its is the possessive form of it, used to show that something belongs to or is associated with something else. It’s is a contraction that combines it is or it has, with the apostrophe replacing the missing letters. To choose the right word, use the substitution trick—if you can replace it with it is or it has, use it’s; if not, use its. Avoid common mistakes, like using it’s to show possession or adding an apostrophe to its just because it “looks right.”
I guess if this is the rule we must abide by, then I shall not pursue the argument. As I am but a young, and newly educated ant, I shall follow the masses with this one. It’s just not worth arguing about, and I already seem to be doing it out of habit.
It is what it is, and it isn’t what I thought it’d be, with its rules about itself and all it’s exceptions, too. I guess it’s more about its uses in it’s daily life that makes it more about itself than about its use in our sentences, regarding it’s proper usage.
I thought I’d leave you with a tongue twister, but I’m sure there are mistakes in there, somewhere…
The easiest way to describe how new hands were such a positive change for me, is to just show you…
The old hands held onto so many painful things from the past, but with new hands on board, I began to let go…
When this began happening, I noticed how much strength began to return to my body. With two new hands, now free of waste, I have the freedom to use these hands for so much more… so much good!
There is freedom to reach out in love now, more and more each day, without guilt, shame, bitterness, resentment, anger or poison from the past.
… and, that also leaves oodles of spare time for one of my favorite hobbies. Take a wild guess…
Can there be such a thing as a Wordless Thursday, instead of Thursday Thoughts?
I don’t feel like blogging in the slightest, but the picture looked so inviting that I had to post it, if only to inspire myself to write.
The problem is, I still can’t even decide which chair I’d want to sit in… do I sit stoically on the one side, or snuggle into the blankets and security of the other side. I still haven’t picked, and I’ve been sitting here for 30 minutes, just staring at the picture. I brought pastries, but you’ll have to enjoy them for me. Oddly, they don’t even look that good.
I guess this is how life so often looks, for most of us. Not all days will be marshmallows and rainbows… how disheartening!
I have days where the bible beckons to me like a beacon out of the darkness, and then there are those days.
Some days I catch myself singing worship songs without even needing the accompaniment of music, and then there are those days.
I have moments where scripture rolls freely off my tongue, as if I were reading straight from the bible, and then there are just those days.
Days where I don’t want to read the word, or pray, or sing, or even speak, can arise when things are not what I’d hoped for… when the world doesn’t spin in a favorable direction. What then?
I could close out the world, my feelings, and God, if I so choose it. God doesn’t demand my attention and obedience… He never forces me to do anything, but instead, simply sits with me in the quiet.
I find myself sitting with the bible tucked in my lap, not out of requirement, but out of sheer necessity. It’s the only safe place to be… there in the quiet.
Feelings are fleeting, often changing from one sort to another, in only a moment. If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s that a believer doesn’t survive on feelings, but on truth. I do not live by my own understanding, as I did when I was younger. Emotions and feelings are triggered by external sources, brought about by life. It is what it is.
My job is to enact routines and behaviors that keep me grounded in truth, light, and reality. That is done through reading the word of God regularly, and with purpose. Does it matter that I’ve read the bible repeatedly, over the last 57 years… nope!
I swear I get something new out of scripture, nearly every single time I’ve studied it. Isn’t that something? Now, I’ve read and re-read numerous old books from my past readings, and don’t get me wrong, it was great. But that kind of reading is different, more nostalgic than anything else, I think.
When I say that I learn something new, I mean that I actually glean something from scripture that I hadn’t seen or noticed at any other time of study. I’m always left feeling amazed, or in awe of God’s ways. He knows the exact moment that I need a specific word, or teaching. What a masterful teacher He is!
For example, I opened the bible this morning and simply started reading, out of routine, rather than a desire to actually study. Like I said, this morning has been a struggle.
I hadn’t even gotten through the first chapter in Isaiah, when God caught my attention in vs. 5,
“Why should you be beaten anymore? Why do you persist in rebellion? Your whole head is injured, your whole heart afflicted. From the sole of your foot to the top of your head there is no soundness – only wounds and welts and open sores, not cleansed or bandaged or soothed with oil.”
Now, before you start thinking that I am going to attempt paraphrasing here, I’m not. What I want to show you, is how God works in my life, through the study of His word.
While I understand the times of these writings, and the intent of the actual message, it still spoke to my heart in a unique way. Let me explain…
In this current day and time, I am dealing with things that cause me pain, both physically and emotionally… so I’m compromised, as I like to put it. I feel sorry for myself, I don’t want to listen to God if he isn’t going to just fix the problem, and I rebel by avoiding the word, avoiding prayer, and avoiding acceptance of what’s real and true. My head is injured, as it is racing around in circles trying to find the exit (answers). My body isn’t sound, at this time. I am malnourished, of a sort, along with other issues… and yes, it feels like wounds, welts and open sores.
Now here’s the rub… I am a bought and paid for daughter of the living God, and yet I wander around uncleansed, unbandaged, and unsoothed… by choice!
I’ve been holding onto my health, my circumstances, and my own filthy history… shocker!
No, it doesn’t mean that if I simply hold out my hand, God is simply going to heal all my boo boos, and make all the bad men go away. It takes work, effort, and consistent changes for the better, in all areas of my life… all of them.
I’ve locked away all the painful memories of my past, which is good sort of, but not when it becomes an excuse not to forgive… especially myself.
Literally, everything I struggle with today is a direct result of my childhood, as well as how I delt with that experience. My dad’s death was simply the nail in his own coffin, for a life utterly wasted on the pursuit of wickedness. I will not carry his burden, his sin, nor his dirty luggage any longer. It may just take a bit of effort and time to remind myself of this truth.
My health issues are a direct reflection of the damage done by internalizing too much of what life hands you… long term emotional overload!
I know that specific scripture verse may have had nothing to do with me or my father, but the fact that scripture is living and breathing means that God has the power to use his word to speak to me, specifically.
What I do know is that God is with me, never leaving, nor forsaking me, and I know that even when I don’t understand things of this world, He does.
When life becomes too overwhelming, I cling to the one thing that has held me fast all the years of my life… the truth. The bible is my truth!
My health may continue as it is, it may resolve, or it may become worse. I am the one who chooses to dwell on it, or chooses to toss it in a backpack and take it down the road with me. My illness will not define me, nor will my fathers dirty and sordid history… he was a monster. Just because I share his blood doesn’t mean I share in his guilt!
While I’m not sorry he’s gone, I am sorrowful for the life he wasted. I pray that God heal each and every child that this wicked man ever laid hands upon. Have I truly forgiven my dad? Only God truly understand my heart in all of this. I know that if I stood beside him in heaven, I wouldn’t see anything other than a fellow child of God, fully forgiven. It is possible, you know. I don’t have all the answers to those kind of questions. Trust me, I’ve been asking God these things all my life.
I love how Joyce Meyers said, “I may not be where I want to be, but thank God I’m not where I used to be. I’m ok, and I’m on my way!” I can say that I share how she feels.
When I began this mornings blog, I didn’t think I was going to be able to share anything, lol. Boy was I wrong! Sorry for all the wordiness, but as I’ve said before, my blog is usually how I process my feelings. By the end of the blog, I feel better.
If you know me at all, in even the least of my writings, you already know the answer I offer this prompt! In truth, we are all in the very same story, book, tale, movie, script or song… we are all intricately woven into God’s tapestry. Many have written about it, sung about it, reenacted the story in a movie or play, but in truth… we are all in there!
Why? John 3:16 baby! For God so love the world, that he gave his one and only son, that who so ever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life! If I got any of those words wrong, it’s due to simply writing without looking at my source, but you get the truth of it!
Yesterday was the day that the temple veil was torn in two
Today was a day of sorrow and confusion
A day where women wept, while men spoke in fearful whispers of things to come
Tomorrow will represent that Sunday morning, so long ago, when the women found the stone removed, leaving an empty tomb…
Tomorrow represents the day He met them on the road…
The day that our creator gave us the most precious gift ever given… eternal life, without fear, shame, or condemnation. We were given the blood of God’s own precious son, to wash over our very souls, and cleansing us of all sin. We have been bought and paid for by Jesus, himself.
I praise God for such a perfect gift… oh so costly, but so very necessary! Without Jesus sacrifice, we would be condemned to death, claimed by Satan, himself. That’s a gift worth celebrating, wouldn’t you agree.
I wanted to share a very heartfelt, and sincere, Happy Easter! I send out my greetings today, as I won’t be online tomorrow. For the first time in nearly twenty years, I’ll be joining my sweet friend, Christine, for a sunrise service at her church. It’s time. No obligation, no signing of any contracts, just worship and fellowship. What better time to re-enter the whole church scene than an early Sunrise Easter Service. I’m looking forward to the music, the word, and if I’m truthful, some good human contact.
Tell me you wouldn’t binge watch videos of children’s antics during an Easter Egg hunt, but you’d be fibbing.
Watching one child take eggs out of the basket of another who isn’t looking, or following another child around, only to steal his or her egg find? You’ve never watched? It’s a riot! I’d binge watch that Olympic sport for hours, if I could.
An egg hunt is the best place to determine whose going to be the next pastor, and/or who will be the next politician… just sayin!
Since this community is just right for me, the people oh so sweet, and the neighborhood so warm and inviting…
Well… all I want to improve would be the amount of cookies available to all who visit our street. The happier my community is, the better it makes me feel.
And, what would make a community improved? A sugar high, that’s what!
With more cookies comes more sugar, and more sugar brings out everybody’s happy vibes (well, unless you can’t have sugar).
So, what if a visitor to the community can’t eat regular cookies? That’s what I meant by more cookies, when suggesting what could improve the neighborhood. We need sugar cookies, of course, but we can also make sweeties out of other ingredients, in order to feed those with food sensitivities. Our WP community should NEVER be without sweets, in my opinion. Perhaps that’s why we have such sour politicians in government… not enough cookies!
Before you start thinking that I’m being flippant about caring for my community, I’ll stop you there, as I care very much for those around me. Sadly, I’m not able to become active within my actual neighborhood, as it is very unsafe to exist without my husband as my guardian. You don’t often get to choose your neighbors… only the physical distance between apartments. While I don’t physically go out into my community often, I do pray for them every day, so hopefully that counts for something.
And that, ladies and gents, is my reason for offering more cookies, more encouragement, more inspiration, and more unique characters within The Lobby. You are my community, my family, really.
Cookies?
The cookies on the platter are made with a sugar substitute, as well as, there will now be fruit and nuts for more variety. Just covering all my bases.
Journey With Me! 