Tag: bible

Thursday Thoughts…

WiwohkaLeave a comment

John the Baptist lived in the desert for most of his adult life, surviving on honey and locusts… but he was never alone!

God found a young King David, living and tending his father’s flocks, in solitude.

God met Moses from a burning bush, while in the wilderness.

God helped Noah build the ark, mostly in solitude, aside from when his sons aided in the work.

God gathered Jonah in the belly of a whale, to bring him about.

Jesus spent 40 days and nights in the desert, being tormented and tested by the Devil, himself… but we know that He was NEVER alone! He had an entire host of angels with Him, prepared to serve at all cost, upon the call of their Lord!

When one claims that God met them where they were, in the depth of their own journeys, this is the heart of who God is! We are never alone, even if we listen to the lies of the enemy, being deceived into believing that God does not care, does not see, or wish to give aid.

I have felt God’s hand on the back of my shirt, yanking me three feet backwards, only to see a car fly past and into the wall of the building beside me…

When I lay bleeding to death on a hospital gurney, He stood over me…

When my truck was careening toward the cliffside, during a late night snow storm in the mountains of Colorado, I felt the invisible hand of God grab my truck in one immediate grasp, ripping the steering wheel out of my hands, and turning the nose of my truck back toward the mountainside, allowing me to slowly coast all the way back to the mountain side of the road, and gently coming to a stop.

GOD is with us!

Christ is our firm foundation!

God is faithful!

He will never leave, nor forsake you… just look up!

He has done, is doing, and will do ALL that is within His purpose, plan, and design.

God found me in the desert. Let me show you…

This is from 2023, and it’s the second part of another story that you’ve probably read from my Investigating Truths series. What follows is my best explanation of how God found me:

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Where does one run to in the desert…

What pushed me to run so hard…

Well, whatever drove me with such force towards my own end, I am no longer even sure of…but I fled blindly into the wastelands, none the less.

 Do you remember those old tin can and yarn phones we played with as kids?  No matter how far apart we were from each other, as long as we talked into the can, we could hear what the other was saying.  It may be a strange way of explaining this connection God has with me, but from my beginning, there has always been an invisible string between He and I.  You may scoff, but the only way to prove it is to tell you what I have seen! 

In my blind flight, I wandered into the dead lands where the enemy dwelt!  Everywhere I ran, they sought me hungrily!  Time and again I was ravaged by the wickedness that pursued me ever so steadily, methodically drawing blood in small lethal quantities, eagerly gaining strength from the flesh that was being pulled from my frame.  I found myself at my end, in a pile of bones that must have belonged to many previous victims. 

All it took that night, was a simple tug on the yarn between those two tin cans…not sure if it broke or simply tugged, but it was enough!

 This is how I believe He arrived before me…

As I felt my breath leaving my chest for the end, there came a soft vibration from within the pile of bones I lay on, up from the ground beneath.  All I know is that it grew in intensity until my very blood vibrated with a resonance that I cannot mistake as the thunderous footfalls of my Father at an intense dead run through the desert!  He was coming! 

In my end, I did not have even the strength to open my eyes, but the sounds I heard were overwhelming…Lightening striking the ground and thunderous explosions emitting from the very hand of my Father, were all that I could hear.  The screams of death were in my ears and the smell burning flesh was in my nostrils causing me to open my eyes in alarm, only to witness the Full Level of Gods anger being directed at my enemies.  As the smoke cleared and the sounds died down, I simply let go of my spirit, unable to carry on any longer.  As I felt the darkness consume me, there was something tugging at my mind, something pulling on that string attached to my spirit, I think.   

There came a fragrance, sweeter than any flower I had ever smelled! Wafting gently through the dark, it steadily began soaking into my very fiber…I recognized it from somewhere deep within, as the very breath of God.  Every single place of damage within my spirit became drenched in the warm healing power of His breath!  From that place of complete exhausted surrender, my Father began tending my every wound.  I cannot say how long He stayed there in the wasteland with me, slowly and steadily mending each place that had been damaged.  When I gained strength to stand and walk again, He did not leave me, even then!

 Together, my father and I walked hand in hand back toward the Cities of Souls, and I did not care because I knew He was with me and I need not fear all those souls any longer.  Before I realized it, time had rolled forward and I suddenly found myself standing on a hillside on the outskirts of the city.  When I turned in question to my Father, unsure of our path, He smiled gently and cupped my chin gently in His hands.  He need not even say words out loud, as I could clearly read His thoughts from within my mind. 

Stretching out His arm toward the city caused my eyes to follow where He pointed.  Clearly, I could see a small path weaving all of the way through the city to the mountains of God on the other side.  I could see, if I looked closely, small lights illuminating the path frequently.  It was time for me to walk steadily down that path and through the Cities of Souls, making sure to follow His clearly marked path.  If I held to the path, even when I felt lost or discouraged, the path would get me home, where my Almighty God was preparing a place for me. 

If I needed Him, I need only reach out for Him, smelling the air for His fragrant breath, which kept those lights along the path glowing brightly.  With a love like this, I am now compelled to walk forward into those Cities of Souls, no longer just a wild child, but alas, an imperfectly beautiful Woman of Grace!

“Do not let your hearts be troubled.  Trust in God; trust also in me.  In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.  I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”

John 14:1-4

Monday Messages…

Wiwohka21 Comments

While you might not believe me when I say this, I can sometimes actually hear God’s voice. I’m being fully serious, though it’s probably not His actual voice. Or, maybe it is, but nobody has ever commented on it.

When you think about it, why not? He’s spoken to many of us throughout the ages, so why would He stop? Sometimes I find myself asking Him why He doesn’t still perform those huge miracles that were used in the past. And, guess what? He answered me!

You see, God and I have our deepest conversations while I’m in the shower, weird, I know. But, it’s the most peaceful place I know of, where the sound of the water drowns out all background noises.

Just the other day, I heard God’s voice (more of a whisper), clearly speaking to me… or my heart, if that makes better sense. This was one of those sometimes I spoke about, in regards to where all the big miracles went. I’ll be honest, it was more like asking why He won’t perform those Enormous miracles for me, rather than others… judge my heart carefully, if you would. I’m only human, like the rest of mankind.

Anyway, in my feel-sorry-for-myself waterboarding session, I heard God whisper, “I perform miracles, big and small, every single day. While some need to see more of my hand upon their life, you do not! You know me, hear my voice, and fully accept my presence. You do not need to see big things to know that I am near.”

Now, I readily accepted God’s answer, but it doesn’t always make one feel all better, in one fell swoop. I believe that at times, God chooses to lay seeds beneath our feet that are meant to take root, grow up and envelope us in His love, like a beautiful garden. God knows our every need, down to the minutia of details… you know why? Because He dwells within us if we ask it! Faithfully walking each corridor of our hearts, planting eternal seeds of His righteousness. And, He knows exactly how to water that garden… and in my case, that’s in the shower.

Now, just to prove a point, if you will, about how God works in my life, He will normally speak to me, then start leaving seeds of confirmation. What I mean is, God likes to choose several different ways to do this for His daughter… that’s me!

Sometimes, God speaks to me through scripture, but other times, wisdom comes from music, or even writer’s like you. There have been countless times that I’ve received encouragement and blessings from the writings of other bloggers, here on WordPress. God uses you to bless my life, whether you realize it, or not!

So, I told you that God spoke to me in the shower the other day, right? Several days later, while reading an article by a fellow blogger, in regards to there being purpose in our pain, as believers. No, I’m not planning on calling out names, or leaving links… because this isn’t about a like, follow, and share! This is about the heart of God, and what it means for us, His children.

Somehow, the understanding that there is an eternal purpose for my own personal painful journey, brings me an incredible amount of comfort, and reassurance that God is with me, while in the heart of darkness. The words of the woman’s article clung to me for several days, til I realized that God was asking that I look up. I know that this sounds rather simple and unimportant, but when one is fighting a battle they cannot see, every tiny breadcrumb leading to the heart of the Father, is like tossing a floatation to one who is drowning! It’s lifesaving, in fact!

After the last 5 years, by all rights, I shouldn’t even be here. But, here I sit, writing out my ongoing journey. You know that mug I’ve posted pictures of, repeatedly? The one that says,

“Perhaps you were born for such a time as this. Esther 4:14

Maybe I WAS born for these days, you know?

Who am I to doubt God’s purpose, plan, and will for my life? Besides, when you truly believe that God is with you in each, and every moment of your life, that’s where the truth is. That’s where faith grows! It’s in those gardens that He tends for each of His earthly children, and that means you too, if you wish it.

I could go on and on about the many, many times that God has spoken to me through this journey, but for your sakes I will wrap this up. But, before I do, there is one last piece of confirmation from God, regarding my current situation, and it’s a doozey! This confirmation came just this morning, while reading scripture. You can scoff, shake your head in disbelief, or call me a liar and a fool, but my God spoke to me this morning, while reading in the Psalms, Chapter 109 to be exact!

I do not wish to speak of God’s word, out of context, so you should know that what I really got out of the reading was that God will be victorious, on my behalf. The reason I knew He desired that I rest on that specific scripture, was the glaring reference to my own personal health crisis. It was right there, in black and white! While I fully understood the context of King David crying out to God, due to running for his life… I’m not really being attacked by anyone. But, what if I am? What about Satan, the devil, or whatever you choose to call the prince of Darkness? Am I not surrounded by my enemy?

Take it however you choose, as I have no control over that, but just know that it is the truth that I shall carry like a banner, all the way to the gates of heaven! I hear God speak to me, that’s all. I simply thought that someone out there, somewhere in the darkness, needs to hold on to a simple, yet very powerful truth… God will speak to you, walk with you, carry you, and He will always hold you while in darkness! All you need to do is believe, and He will do the heavy lifting… scouts honor!

Through the darkness…

Wiwohka7 Comments
Photo by Rok Romih on Pexels.com

I suppose one might say, the last two years have been like walking through a darkened forest. And, often times, it felt like there was little or no light to see which way to go.

Never in my life did I think I’d find myself living in abject poverty, but never the less, here is where we are! Sure, I could start throwing out excuses, cast blame in multiple directions, and cry out how unfair my lot in life is. Nah… I’m too tired, and bellyaching about how life is hard, does nothing more than make my stomach hurt. And, just now, my stomach isn’t feeling good in the slightest.

I’ve shared some of the journey with you, here on WordPress, but most I’ve kept back in an attempt to spare you from watching the full trainwreck. I know that I probably have every right to cry Foul Ball, No Fair, and/or possibly even break out into song that “Everybody hates me, nobody likes me, I think I’ll eat some worms”. Truth is… life is hard! Moreso for some than for others. If you wish for a better answer, you go ask God, cause I don’t know everything. I will continue on through the darkness… because, I trust in One much greater than I, and where He leads, I will obediently follow!

I used to be afraid of the dark, but no longer…

Consider for a moment what it’s like to be in utter, blinding darkness. There you are, cold, frightened and lost; stumbling over unseen obstacles, and scraping your elbows on walls you bumped into… but then you realize that your eyes are beginning to adjust, allowing you to glimpse shadows here or there. You can now notice even the tiniest of reflections, like the water glistening off the rocks. If it’s so dark, how can you see reflections of anything?

Light is such a powerful thing, isn’t it? It can reach some of the darkest places you could imagine, from the tiniest of openings. Once it get’s in, the light simply bounces itself off of anything reflective, casting it’s warmth out into the shadows. As long as it has the surfaces it needs, light can hold it’s strength and reach great distances.

We all have the potential to carry the light forward into the darkness, with just as much strength and power from whence it came… if our heart has enough reflective surfaces for the light reach.

When I mentioned that I was not afraid of the dark anymore, it’s because I carry an eternal light within. I was gifted this light on the day of my spiritual rebirth… when I gave my life to God. It has never departed, nor will it, because that is the life of a believer.

Before you start thinking I’m claiming to have arrived at perfect enlightenment, standing on the front lines of the spiritual battlefield, and fully muscled up for said spiritual military maneuvers… let me put my feet back down on the ground and tell it like it really is, much of the time.

Many times, God tells me to do, or not do a thing, without any helpful information or back up team of Godly cheerleaders, singing my praises. Most of my service to God is done in the quiet, in the shadows, and yes, while going through the darkness… and, it’s not for the faint of heart, ladies and gentlemen!

The bible repeatedly tells us that we will have troubles in this world, on behalf of Christ, and that we should count it all Joy! When going through the darkness, there are, and will be, many times that we will not be feeling joy at all, but it’s never permanent… and God truly will ONLY give us what we are capable of handling, with His help!

I am not expected to carry the weight of the world’s darkness upon my shoulders, and for this I am eternally grateful. My only job is to rest in His arms and allow God to carry me through it, which is all I’m able to do, currently. External struggle and hardship, I’m well trained for surviving… I’ve been doing it since birth!

The fallout from said external punches, stabs, and full on high speed collisions from this world, along with the consequences of the life I lived, have finally brought me to one of the darkest and most difficult struggles I’ve ever battled… my own self, or my physical body. All the years of holding in my own scars, hurt, sorrows, and anger at God and everyone else, has cost me greatly.

As most of you already know, we were finally given sheltered housing back in March of this year, after nearly a full year of homelessness, and the year before that living without a toilet or running water. By the grace of God, housing finally came through, and for the moment… I say moment… we are safely deposited in a modest apartment. Many don’t even have that! Shortly after moving into this facility, the city decided to stop paying for many of their obligations. The rent here hasn’t been paid since May, I think. My husband is in school finishing a degree that is only being paid for if we make 0$, so there’s that. Our expedition that held over $7000.00 in tools was stolen, then our Edge was towed because this facility does not provide free parking. With no money to claim it, that vehicle was also lost. We lost both storage units for lack of funds, so everything is now gone, including the RV and all that was inside…. and f.y.i., this woman of God was still keeping all those scars, hurt, sorrows, anger at injustice, and complete isolation locked tightly inside.

Finally, the dam broke, as they say. After all those years of carrying, stuffing, covering over, and downplaying all of my own ugly baggage… my body has had enough!

When we were homeless, I actually gained over 30lbs, believe it or not! Days, nights, weeks, and months of eating out of bags and microwaves, plus sleeping in places I’d rather not talk about, did a fantastic job of destroying all the hard work I’d put in walking on my trails. I thought I could get myself back on track once we moved into our apartment, but beings that we’re nowhere near out of the woods, the stress and strain continued to break down my emotional defenses.

First came the nausea, heartburn, and other tummy troubles, which I attributed to my IBS. But then I began struggling to keep food down, and so I stopped eating. Was I trying to lose weight… no. But, did it bother me that I was quickly returning to my former weight, by not eating? Not really. It actually felt a little better to have an empty stomach, and the pain wasn’t as bad for a time.

Finally, I sought a doctor’s help back in late June. By July, they’d done a CAT scan, which reflected what they said was a minimal hernia, and nothing to worry about. Then, when I said I was getting worse, they did both an Endoscopy, as well as a Colonoscopy. Nope, nothing really wrong with you Mrs. Swartz, aside from your IBS. Let us know if you need more meds. Then the insurance decided they didn’t want to pay for part of my meds, so there went those antacid pills that were keeping me from constantly throwing up in my mouth… sorry, that was a bit graphic.

I have had to quite coffee, chocolate, gluten, dairy, and nearly everything else aside from oatmeal, chicken breast, peanuts, and white rice. I only eat about two to three bites of those fun gluten free bakes I’ve been doing… I’m too frightened to eat!

The scale in the doctor’s office said 171 back in July, when I had those tests. While I don’t own a scale, I can safely assume that I’ve dropped well below my 147 walking weight.

After a desperate phone call to my GI doctor’s nurse, where upon I had a complete, and very justified meltdown to a rather moody medical nurse, they offered to schedule me for an appointment in DECEMBER! Uh, at that point, the nurse asked if she could talk to me through email… gee, I wonder why?

Finally, they scheduled me for an Esophogram:

(Google) An esophogram, also known as a barium swallow, is an X-ray procedure that examines the esophagus using a contrast liquid, typically barium, to visualize the movement of food from the mouth to the stomach. This test helps diagnose conditions like blockages, hiatal hernias, inflammation, and swallowing disorders by showing how well the esophagus functions and the direction of food during swallowing. The procedure is painless, takes about 15 to 30 minutes, and patients can typically resume their normal activities and diet immediately after. 

Guess what they found?

A hernia…

That minimal thing that they said was nothing…

Ya, that hernia!

It’s actually called a Sliding Hiadal Hernia, and it sits right at the bottom of my esophagus. When I swallow food, the opening at the base of my esophagus stays open and lets food and liquid come right back up. Add this to my IBS, my stress, and my weakened physical state… I’m slowly starving to death… and I seem to be the only one fairly alarmed, here!

Well, not the only one. My GI messaged me less than two hours after the test, offering to refer me to a surgeon. I think both he and I agree that I’m not a normal case, which can often be managed by what? Weight loss, change of diet, change of lifestyle, and or those silly pump-inhibitors that my insurance company seem to dislike paying for hasn’t done me any favors, thus far.

Surgery seems to be the answer, as it will most likely alleviate most, if not, all those different medications, currently not helping me get better.

Now, we wait! I am resting beneath my Father, as to the speed and outcome of things. I do not fear death, nor the darkness, because though I walk through the shadow of the valley of death… God walks with me through it, and if I should falter, He will not!

If you are walking through darkness, or lost in it, hold on… and look for the light I am carrying… perhaps, we might walk along together, side by side, for a bit…

Thursday Thoughts…

Wiwohka9 Comments

Flowers come in every color, shape, and size that one can imagine… but, when the weather changes they die, leaving little or no trace of their presence.

The bible speaks on more than one occasion about how, if God takes such care in their details, how much more precious we are to Him. I mean, after all, we are all made in the image of God, by God, and for God’s pleasure.

If God didn’t love us so much, why would the bible say that He is a jealous God, wanting nothing more than for us to believe in Him, follow Him, love Him, and walk in paths of His righteousness?

All those glorious flowers that spring up in such breathtaking arrangements, wilt and die off without a thought to Him that gave them life… and yet, in each new season, God brings them back again, with such loving faithfulness.

Whenever my eyes come to rest upon a delicate and lightly scented flower, it is a constant reminder of how much my Lord values me… me! Why?

I have sinned many times…

Many times have I been sinned against…

Sometimes, forgiveness between humans is there and sometimes it is not…

My childhood was torn from me, violently… I have to lay that down on the alter, each and every day!

I tore my three children’s lives apart, when I divorced their father… I have to lay that down on the alter, each and every day!

Why on earth does He tell me I’m forgiven, loved, and of use to Him… each and every day? And, He does this faithfully, for me… little ole me… the one that I just told you about. The woman who was abused as a child, became a runaway, became a Christian, became a wife and mother… only to become an adulteress! I single handedly destroyed my daughters lives, and I shall bear it all the way to the gates of heaven. Why does He want me?

Why? Because God chose me before the beginning of the world… because He knew what was to come… because He knew I would be abused, knew that I would run, knew the very day I would commit my life to Him, knew of my marriage, children, several affairs, divorce … God knew that I would be an adulteress… He knew!

And, here I sit typing to you this morning, still breathing, still getting up and dusting myself off again, and going back to the one place that answers that why I was just asking… Scripture! God tells me why He chose me, on each and every page that I read… it’s all there!

One just has to look. Reading is fundamental, as they say.

Wait, what?

Wiwohka3 Comments

Happy Monday, everyone! It’s me, Lilly! Now that we’re all home from our summertime travels, I’ve started some online courses to teach me how a true journalist studies and writes. I want to be writer, you see, just like you. If I’m to become a better colonist, I mean columnist, I have to start somewhere. So Mee-maw says I can do my practicing here, on Mondays… well, at least for now.

Thankfully, I love to read, because there’s a great big world of words out there to learn. I do alright for the most part, but sometimes, it gets quite confusing for such a tiny brain. But I’ve been told that it’s not my size that counts, but how well I use my brain. I’m learning the art of reading, one page at a time.

Let me tell you about the morning I’ve had, thus far, in my reading and writing adventures…

Have you ever been reading a thing, and suddenly notice that a particular word you’ve read seems like it might be spelled wrong? You read it once more, and then again. You keep going back to look at the word, because you’re certain they meant something different.

So, what do we do when this occurs? Any reader worth their salt would never presume to know more than the original author. That’s bad form, I think. The right thing to do when encountering a wordage dilemma, is to grab a dictionary, encyclopedia, or thesaurus, if necessary.

Sometime, during this last weekend, I came across the word endued while reading scripture. My brain began arguing that the word should have been embued, imbued, or even endured. Strange, I know. It was like giving a mouse a cookie, that word! Or an ant…

Off to Google, I went, but that was more of a rabbit hole than I was prepared for. Not only couldn’t I find the passage I’d just read it from, but when I asked the computer where to find that word in scripture, it never gave me any verses that were near the place I’d been reading.

Anyways, I ended up spending nearly an hour this morning, just comparing spellings, translations, and the definitions that were attached to them, just so that I could understand which meant what!

Check this out…

Did you mean: embue vs imbue vs endue

AI Overview

Imbue means to saturate, instill, or inspire something with a quality, emotion, or belief, like a sponge soaking up water. Endue (or endued) means to provide or endow someone with a quality or ability, like a person being endowed with rights. Embue is an obsolete and incorrect form of imbue and should not be used. 

Here’s a breakdown of each word:

Imbue

  • Meaning: To deeply affect or permeate something, often with an emotion, quality, or color, as if soaking it throughout. 

Origin: From the Latin imbuere, meaning “to dye, wet, or moisten”. Examples:

  • “A feeling of optimism imbues her works”. 

“The new leader was imbued with the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi”. 

Endue (and Endued) 

  • Meaning: To give qualities or abilities to someone or something. The past participle, endued, means to have been provided with these qualities.
  • Origin: Influenced by the Latin induere, meaning “to put on”.
  • Examples:
    • “The workers were endued with the spirit of camaraderie”.
    • “They were endued with the rights of a citizen”.

Embue 

  • Meaning: An obsolete form of imbue.
  • Usage: This word is no longer in common use and should be avoided. Stick to the modern form, imbue.

So, what have I hopefully learned, here?

Well, aside from the cheeky response about not using the spelling embue, I do think I may have learned the difference between endue and imbue. I believe that one means the feeling, and the other means the actual quality, itself. Now, I said that I believe it to mean this, but the jury is still out. If I were you, I wouldn’t put all your money on me.

Besides, I sometimes feel like those literary rabbit holes are more trouble than their words… I mean worth!

Thursday Thoughts…

Wiwohka3 Comments

Thought #1 – Why did we ever stop writing letters to one another?

Thought #2 – Wouldn’t it be wonderful if, during the winter months, families regularly met to read and share stories from when they were young?

Thought #3 – If a bag of chocolate chips spill all over the kitchen floor, but there’s nobody in the room, does it make a sound? I know my kids could hear a candy bar wrapper being opened from the neighbor’s house across the street.

Thought #4 – I hope it doesn’t rain on Saturday. At least, not until after my daughter’s baby shower.

Thought #5 – Whatever happened to that Samaritan woman, after Christ left her village? I wonder how differently her life was, after the fact?

Thought #6 – Then there’s Simon of Cyrene, the man forced to carry Jesus cross. What must his life have become, after encountering the Son of God on the day of his crucifixion?

Thought #7 – I miss watching Little House on the Prairie!

Thought #8 – Well that last thought did it! Now I’m thinking how much I miss shows like Grizzly Adams, Land of the Lost, J.P. Patches, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Leave it to Beaver, Fantasia, the early Sesame Street episodes, The Electric Company, and so many others that filled my childhood with imagination… aaaaahhhhhhhh, the good ole days of television.

Thought #9 – If I were traveling for years, on foot, in the desert, and with nearly a million other tired, frightened, and grumpy fellow walkers… how long would it take before I, myself, began to whine about eating only manna and quail?

Thought #10 – Why can’t my cup of Peppermint tea stay hot longer than 10 minutes?

Thought #11 – If I were given a bag that could only hold 10 items for survival, just before being dumped in the middle of nowhere, what would I choose… and could I survive? When I say nowhere, I mean no cell service, no electricity, and no other people. Ewwww!

Thought #12 – How old is too old for one to skinny dip?

Thought #13 – Why is it that I can sing to the skies when I’m in a church, or alone on a walking path, but the thought of doing it in front of a Karaoke machine fills me with dread? There’s other people in both places, so what’s the difference?

Thought #14 – I used to wish that God would make me smell like cookies, whenever children passed by, but I also really love the smell of Cotton Candy, so now I’m not so sure which I like better.

Thought #15 – 

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.  Psalm 119:105

Thursday Thoughts…

WiwohkaLeave a comment

Thought #1 – It’s finally happened! Last night, I actually said out loud that I thought a vegan donut sounded good!

Thought #2 – If I’m eating oatmeal with oat milk, do I refer to it as oatmeal with milk, or Oat Oatmeal?

Thought #3 – How many puppies can I fit in a tiny home? Maybe some are built with a puppy pullout. Hey! I thought of it first, here! Maybe I should go on Shark Tank!

Thought #4 – Wouldn’t it be funny to see your local metro bus with flashy lights, loud music, and those suspension lifter’s on the tires? The kind they put on souped up tiny lawnmower cars? I know that we’ve all seen em bouncing through the intersection on a Friday night. If metro tried to do that, the passengers would all be car sick!

Thought #5 – I know babies only see in black and white, at first. But what about their dreams? If I read a story to my unborn granddaughter, will she dream in color?

Thought #6 – I want raisons in my oatmeal, today. Do I want them bad enough to get dressed and walk down to the store and back?

Thought #7 – That’s twice that I’ve ended up on a thought about oatmeal. It’s crazy how much of our brain is always focused on foods!

Thought #8 – My daughter is getting married tomorrow. I wasn’t invited.

Thought #9 – Forgiveness is eternal, but consequences… those are like ripples in a pond. They must play out until they reach the sandy shore’s of one’s life. I shall wear my choices with as much grace as I can. May God be with her and our son-in-law, as they begin their journey as one! I pray that God extend his umbrella of coverage over them and our soon to be born Sugar Plum… not my will, but thy will be done, father! Amen

Thought #10 – Man! I just realized that if I feel depressed… I can’t even binge eat Ice cream, anymore! Not Fair!

Thought #11 – I want to try dry brush painting, again.

Thought #12 – If I ever get a puppy again, I’m gonna take my new baby to one of those groomers that will color and cut the dog’s fur to look like Tigger, from Winnie The Pooh!

Thought #13 – Learning to forgive is a really good way to learn about being unforgiven by another. Walk a mile takes on a whole new meaning, when it comes to the act of forgiveness.

Thought #14 – God wants me… just the way I am, with all my hurts, scars, sins, mistakes, broken dreams, and bridges on fire!

Thought #15 – By the time I get to thought #15, my heart, mind, and spirit have all met upon shores of peace, resting beneath one so much greater than myself! He is the author of my faith, the healer of my heart, and the One who calls me His own! By the grace of God, I shall rise from the ashes of my own failures to walk beneath my king all the way Home, hand in hand!

Desperate…

Wiwohka4 Comments

I was about to do my usual Tuesday Tinkering post this morning, when this song began playing on my headset, stopping me in my tracks!

Only moments earlier, I’d been putting the pretty touches on my prompt response from last year, which speaks on what brings me peace. Then I moved on with my morning, feeling accomplished with my archive theft.

Then this song began to play, and it dawned on me that she was singing my feelings about where I get my peace from. It brought it all home for me, all over again!

We humans are so forgetful of how much we need God on a daily basis, in each moment. I can easily get distracted from things of importance, almost as if I just assume God will cover me, catch me, and/or make a way.

I can fall into the lazy category of entitlement. Oh yes! This quirky little cookie creator can find herself accidentally letting the screen door hit God in the face because I forgot to hold it open for Him! Truthfully, most of us pray the hardest and most humble when the chips are down, or we’re in the depths of our own painful trials. I think the adage “out of sight, out of mind” sort of sums it up! I didn’t say that it happens to folks all the time, it’s merely an easy mindset to fall into, that’s all.

I’ve been struggling, of late, in the whole peace department, if I’m to be fully honest! It’s amazing how much nutrition plays into our mental, and yes, spiritual well being. When I don’t feel well, it takes all my effort to focus on anything else. This is where the lazy entitlement comes into play. My prayers turn inward, and far more whiney than I’d like to admit. I expect God to just take care of all the people on my heart, while I watch Netflix and play on my phone. I let daily distractions draw me from studying the word. It isn’t long before I realize that my peace is gone.

Fortunately, God doesn’t let go of my heart for even a moment! Even when I forget to think of him, He remembers me! And, it’s far better to listen when God whispers than when you can’t hear His voice, at all! If I can’t hear God speaking in the quiet, then it means I haven’t been listening.

This song was His way of reminding me, I think, about how I want to always find myself thinking about God! For Him, I want my heart, mind, and soul to always remain Desperate!

Having water in the desert…

Wiwohka1 Comment
Daily writing prompt
How important is spirituality in your life?
View all responses

Saying that spirituality is important in one’s life seems uncomfortably broad to me, personally. Nowadays, referring to spirituality can go in many different directions. I’ll answer the question from the perspective of a child of God.

In honesty, I live a spirit-filled life every single day! It’s a very deep and intimate relationship with my maker, God himself! He is my comfort when I am sorrowful, my strength when I am weak, and eternally faithful to sustain me, in all things.

It’s kind of like traveling through a desolate and parched land. Know where your water sources are, if you wish to survive the sands! I’m fairly certain that water flows throughout the desert, deep underground. It’s there, but the traveler must know where to find it. After you’ve traveled to to those sources enough times, their location becomes embedded in your muscle memory… you just remember.

As far as my actual spirit-filled life, the bible is one of my water sources. That muscle memory I just mentioned? In this instance, I’m referring to my brain’s ability to recall a thing I’ve read and/or learned… you know, use it or lose it! Then there’s my prayer life, which is my source of sustenance, peace, grace, forgiveness, and so much love… I’m in the presence of my creator!

As for that spirituality part of the prompt, I am filled with the Holy Spirit, which is part of God’s spirit, sent to dwell within this vessel. It says so in the bible,

“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.” Ephesians 1:13, 14

Anyways, that should answer the prompt in an honest and honorable manner without dragging things out for hours. I could, you know!

Because I love you, I’ll settle for handing out cookies instead…

Who’s asking?

Wiwohka6 Comments
Daily writing prompt
What are the most important things needed to live a good life?
View all responses

I think we’re all grown up enough to admit that our answer could and would change, depending on the one asking this kind of question. Say for instance that you’re in the middle of a job interview when this question pops up… maybe not the moment to share the love of Jesus. Or maybe it is!

Why can’t I say what’s in my heart, whether I’m at church, in an interview, or at a gathering of complete strangers? My desire is to have the boldness of Christ, no matter what my circumstance! No fear, no shame, nor arrogance. I wish to bear only truth and love, which are THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS NEEDED TO LIVE A GOOD LIFE!

I’ve a quick little story to tell you that is both funny, and a great example of both the truth/love part, and the boldness of Christ that I mentioned…

I’ve been having a bit of issue with my health, of late, probably due to the environment we’d been surviving in for so long. Unfortunately, I’m not bouncing back as quickly as I’d hoped. Anyway, I went in for some tests and things the other day. My dutiful and doting husband was by my side, as per usual. The wait wasn’t very long before they called my name and we followed the nurse down the hallway toward the exam room. As they normally do at the beginning of a visit, the nurse asked me to stand on the weigh scale. When I stepped onto the scale it climbed all the way up to 203lbs… no joke! I stood there for a second, just staring at the number… how could that be right? Retaining my peaceful, child of God attitude, I acted as if I’d always weighed that much… but I was totally shocked, and rather dismayed! Had I really gotten that far without realizing it?

Just as I stepped backward off the scale, I hear my husband say to the nurse, “Please don’t write that number down… I had my foot on the scale while you weighed her.” No Joke!

Now, I suppose that I could have gotten angry, but as I’m fully aware of my partners shenanigan’s, I know that he loves me to the moon and back… and, I was so grateful that I wasn’t that heavy, allowed me to burst out laughing at his antics! There are no lies between us, we both have heartaches, hurts, and both share bad memories filled with the lies of others. This is the part to explain my answer about Truth and Love, but the next part brought about my thoughts on the boldness of Christ.

Once my doctor had completed the exam, asked all of her questions, and discussed what we needed to do going forward, she did something quite unexpected. She looked me straight in the face and asked, “Can I pray for you? You may say no, if you aren’t comfortable.”

Oh, My, Goodness! What are the odds of little ole me getting a physician that prays to the Ultimate Healer… Praise God! Hallelujah! Having someone actually take my hand in a doctor’s office, of all places, and pray for my needs?

Wow! I want that sort of boldness, day and night, winter spring summer or fall, and in good times or bad. I’m fairly certain that it was that woman’s faith in God and His love working through her, enabling her to speak out with such boldness. This is all just my impression about things, of course.

Now, maybe this story will help you understand my answer for the prompt, maybe not. But, I do still think it was worth the telling… just sayin!

Here, have a cookie..