Who’s asking?

Daily writing prompt
What are the most important things needed to live a good life?

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..

When God Moves…

We have keys!!!

If ever this were to be considered a mountain… well, God moved it!

We do not know why, but for whatever their reason, the owners of the property chose to come back to the table and change their first decision. Basically, they completely changed their mind and lowered the cost of the apartment in order to get us approved… not kidding!

It’s small, but absolutely adorable… and clean!

Everything is new, and bright, and warm, and just perfect perfect perfect!!!

Sure, it’s empty now, but let me tell you… when the bible says that God will restore all that the enemy has stolen, I am watching such miracles unfold right before my eyes!

Some very generous donations have already arrived from God, through the many different organizations that have been with us throughout all this… I swear, I think they’re more excited than we are about things finally coming together. They’ve already ordered us a new bed, a vacuum cleaner, and a boatload of bathroom and cleaning supplies, so that should arrive at the new address within another day or so…

I’m in love with the whole color scheme that was chosen for this layout. Now we just have to wait for the mail to catch up with is… lol.

Oh, and we have to go to the V.A. this afternoon to pick up a furniture voucher, gift cards for things like dishes and cooking supplies. Honestly, I am still a bit numb about all this, as if I expect I might wake from such a dream, you know…

Oh, by the way, right in the middle of all of this going on, I got a phone call from my middle daughter… I’m gonna be a Meemaw again… AAAHHHHHHHH!!!!

Don’t babies just make everything better… oh, and cookies.. cookies make everything better, too. I have to tell you something funny in all this. After loosing pretty much all that we owned, down to the point of wearing the same outfit for the last three and a half weeks, I managed to save two items… my KitchenAid mixer and my Cuisinart, no joke! I have a mountain of cookies to bake, lol! My hubby tested the oven straight away… it’s like he knows me, or something…

And, guess what? Both my little plants have survived, thus far. I promised them both that they’d be getting new pots and soil when we get them moved in… they’ve earned them!

I know that this must have been awful for you all, having to watch helplessly as we went through this desert, but I could NOT have done this without your love, your faithful prayers, and your constant encouragement!

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!

I am so very richly blessed!

This chapter in my journey has closed, so let us move forward to see what God has in store four the future…

If I were to say anything of value, regarding what we just endured, I would say this… God has profoundly changed this wild and angry child, carefully molding her into that which is beautiful in His eyes.

It is indescribably here, resting beneath the shadow of my Father. From here, I can see for endless miles into the future… no, I haven’t reached some weird plane of visions, so don’t start freaking out on me. What I mean is that it’s not dark any longer, as it had been for so much of this process. Oh, I still can’t see the specifics of what will come… but it’s bright here, wherever I look… I might be wrong, but I think that it’s joy, or maybe hope, but it could also be the source of all those prayers everyone has been shouting to the heavens, on my behalf.

I think it might just be all of the above!

You tell me…

Daily writing prompt
How do significant life events or the passage of time influence your perspective on life?

If you really wanted to know what my answer to this prompt might be, you can find it in the words of this song, by Anne Wilson, called Strong…

Even if you don’t want to click on the link, you can read the lyrics,

Strong, try to make ’em all think I’m strong
Yeah, the face I keep putting on says I ain’t tired
But these tear stained eyes ain’t lying
‘Cause hard, nobody told me life could be so hard
A weary soul with a worn out heart that’s barely beating
But every time I get that feeling

I hit my knees with my hands held high
Saying, dear Lord Jesus, you know I can’t do this on my own
I can’t do this on my own
Lord knows I’ve tried, but I’m good at falling down
Thank God You’re good at picking me up off the ground
The world’s gonna try to break me
But I know the one who makes me strong

Strong, like my daddy always told me so
There’s a place you can always go when you’ve got nothing
And then he handed me the one thing
That’s strong, doesn’t matter how old it gets
There’s power in the words in red in this old bible
And when I’m desperate for revival

I hit my knees with my hands held high
Saying, dear Lord Jesus, you know I can’t do this on my own
I can’t do this on my own
Lord knows I’ve tried, but I’m good at falling down
Thank God You’re good at picking me up off the ground
The world’s gonna try to break me
But I know the one who makes me strong, oh, strong

I’m strong when I’ve got nothing
I’m strong even when I’m weak
‘Cause the strong arms of my Savior
Are holding on to me

I hit my knees with my hands held high
Saying, dear Lord Jesus, you know I can’t do this on my own
I can’t do this on my own
Lord knows I’ve tried, but I’m good at falling down
Thank God You’re good at picking me up off the ground
The world’s gonna try to break me
But I know the one who makes me strong
Oh, You make me strong
Oh, this world ain’t gonna break me
‘Cause I know the one who makes me strong

Have a cookie…

they’ll make you strong!

M and M’s…

Isn’t it funny how many of us have our favorite color of those chocolaty treats, even though technically, they probably all taste the same?

I’ve begun learning how different a thing can seem, depending on the one who is looking at it! Thoughts, emotions, and a myriad of other things surrounding a person, shapes the way they perceive what they encounter.

Take, for instance, Mary and Martha… the two sisters that the bible speaks about in the gospel of Luke. As scripture tells it,

38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one.[a] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

I love both Mary and Martha, but in the light of how reading scripture is shaping my view of Jesus… I prefer to live like one M over the other.

F.Y.I., my favorite color is yellow… hugs

The World is My Oyster…

Daily writing prompt
What’s something you would attempt if you were guaranteed not to fail.

While I have no specific list of things off the top of my head that need attempting, I’m confident that if God asks it, it shall be done! If I am walking in faithful obedience to my heavenly Father, my Creator, and King… failure is not in the mix!

Things may not look like we sometimes think they should, and often we must step into a thing with far less ability than we have within us… but, God does not give us a task without providing His strength and skill to complete that which He has asked… so, I’m covered!

Just to put my bible where my mouth is:

Ephesians 3:20-21: God can do anything, working within us through his Spirit. 

Proverbs 3:5-6: Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and he will make your paths straight. 

Colossians 3:17: Do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father. 

Jeremiah 29:11: The Lord has plans for you to prosper and give you hope and a future. 

1 John 4: If we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 

Other Bible verses about God include: Psalm 16:2, Psalm 34:8-10, Psalm 23:6, Psalm 65:11, and Psalm 107:8-9. 

Here’s some coffee, tea, cookies…

Enjoy them while you’re reading.