Category: quote

Posted in book, God, home, memoir, provision, quote, scripture, season, walk, warm, weather, write

My Hiding Place

Posted on by deannagreensandgardenart

These days into mid-autumn have been slow. We all went through the painful federal furlough. It was like walking in the dark bumping into the furniture. And for many not without injury to their budgets and daily necessities. Dean and I buckled down on our spending the past 6 weeks. We cooked from scratch, had the crock out a few times to make that whole chicken stretch for 3 or 4 meals, cheap entertainment like reading books, writing, and a free visit to the art museum with friends. The cooler weather made it easy to stay indoors, but we did manage to get a few walks in the neighborhood and on historic Main Street in our hometown of St. Charles on those warmer days.

“You are my hiding place. You will protect me from trouble, and surround me with songs of deliverance.” ~ Psalm 32:7

Buckling down also made me more aware of those provisions God gives daily, hourly, and every minute of my day. Another morning to wake up to, a warm bed to sleep in, running water, a heating pad for my arthritic joints, hands that still chop and stir for the seniors in our community as well as Dean and I, and other simple pleasures of home. The Almighty’s power and that soft power of home that provides daily. I am surrounded. I am in His hiding place.

Posted in Christian, eyes, faith, God, goodness, peace, People, quiet, quote, season, wisdom

Hold Your Peace

Posted on by deannagreensandgardenart

“The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” ~ Exodus 14:14

Do you ever feel like you are fighting against a mighty current? Not getting anywhere fast? You might see some progress, but if you don’t hold your jaw right, all goes to ruin. Much depends on another person’s faithfulness, or it seems anyway. Do you speak the truth in love with this other person?

The issues that bother me, the unfairness and unfaithfulness of others, most I have spoken to the persons involved. Now at this season, God requires me to be quiet, be calm, be still, hold my peace. This is difficult when I get my eyes focused on the offense. When I keep my eyes focused on God, being quiet is much easier.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 & 7 tells us “there is a time for everything … time to be silent, and a time to speak.” Wisdom is knowing which is best at this present moment. In the online article Zachary Groff states “There is power in holding your peace. For the Christian, ‘holding your peace’ means more than just being quiet. It means to combine restraint with expressions of awe at God’s majesty, and to replace outrage with joy at God’s goodness.”

I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living!

~ Psalm 27:13

Posted in aim, baby, choice, energy, feelings, give, holy, hope, husband, joy, life, nature, path, present, quote, regret, scripture, season, thankful, write

What Am I Aiming For?

Posted on by deannagreensandgardenart

My husband and I recently had a visit with a nephew, his lovely wife, and their adorable 3-month-old baby girl. Being with this young family brings us back three or four decades, when we each were up in the middle of night for diaper changes, feedings and then, trying to catch a few ZZZ’s during the baby’s daytime naps. Nothing compares to the joys of those cuddles in the rocking chair.

“There is a large measure of joy in ordinary moments ” ~ Susan Gale Wickes

I feel I rushed those moments that turned into years while looking for the next season and stages of life. Isn’t it living in the present moment that is most essential? Watching the birds feed and protect their young warms my heart. Time spent in nature with the trees, rivers, beach, and meadows of wildflowers calms any qualms. Writing poems and short stories keep me balanced along with reading Holy Scriptures and inspirational words.

The feeling of regret is uncomfortable; therefore, I have chosen to slow down a whole lot in this season of my life. With my partial retirement, I am shifting to a lower gear. I don’t want to stop discovering and living a full life. My energy is spent on worthy endeavors. Lifelong learning, embracing newness, intimacy with my relationships, thankfulness, and giving to others continue to be my aim. What do you aim for in this season of your life? If need be, start all over again.

“If you knew that hope and despair were paths to the same destination, which would you choose?” ~ Robert Breault

Posted in barrier, book, boundary, change, feelings, God, heart, Holy Spirit, hurt, listen, memoir, path, prayer, quote, rejection, scripture, season, spirit, Spiritual, time, write

A Turned-Up Hand

Posted on by deannagreensandgardenart

“There is a time and place for everything“ an old saying goes probably based on the holy scripture in Ecclesiastes. I know it is not what you or I want to hear after a turned-up hand shows up in the face. I have had plenty of turned-up hands, rejections, and boundaries set lately. But a boundary set gives me permission to thrive and live within the boundaries God has given me.

“There is a time for everything,
    and a season for every activity under the heavens …” Ecclesiastes 3:1

For the time being I have laid aside teaching culinary classes. The continuing education courses at the local community college have made too many changes I am comfortable with. Hence, the boundary set, and I take heed to. I will and have taken opportunities to teach culinary and writing-related workshops to young adults and adults. I am open to more venues to share my love of cooking and writing. In the meantime, God has prepared a time space whereas I can be more available at the senior center. Besides being a culinary professional, I have taken on more training and duties with regards to inventory and ordering at this season.

“I write because I don’t know what I think until I read what I say.” ~ Flannery O’Connor 

I have completed the first draft of my memoir. I have two readers combing through proofreading and making edit suggestions. The next steps are a professional editor, then the publisher. I have folks in mind for each of those roles for my first full-length book. There may be a hand turned-up in the process, but those brakes are a barrier that leads me to something better. In the meantime, I completed a 49 haiku challenge, seven haikus written for seven days. It was very therapeutic, and I was able to see my thought and feeling process after a difficult week. Writing does that for me. A green light means “go for it”! I have taken the opportunity to have my haikus printed into a mini book entitled Balancing The Seesaw.

Prayer was a very significant part of my difficult week, too. Relationships hurt sometimes. I was able to give my feelings of rejection to our God, who “knows when I sit and stand … understands my thoughts from afar” as Psalms 139:2 tells me. Are you listening to your own comfort zone? What stop sign have you encountered? What has God laid on your heart? What new path is the Spirit directing you to? There is a season for everything.

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time for hate,
a time for war, and a time for peace.
~Ecclesiastes 3: 1 – 8

Posted in blessings, color, creative, flower, God, heart, humble, memoir, passion, People, Physical, provision, purity, quote, royalty, season, Spiritual, thankful, warm, write, writer

In The Pink Reflections

Posted on by deannagreensandgardenart

These past few days have been a mixture of memories and enlightenment as I continue to write my memoir. Original poems, short stories, and recipes collected in one place. I am thankful and humbled by all the experiences I have lived with some incredible people. My Father God has blessed me beyond measure. Surely, I am having in the pink reflections.

“Pink is a beautiful color, because it is one of the colors that the sun makes at twilight and in the dawns.”
~ C. Joybell C.

Pinks, purples, fuchsia, and orange melt the evening skies this month. Fuchsia painted the night sky when the Northern lights came to us on May 5. Varied shades of pink roses, peonies, and wildflowers bring color to the yards, fields, windowsills, baskets, and vases. The warm weather season’s clothing and linens shout pink, the color between red’s passion and white’s purity. My heart.

My favorite is the brightest pink color, fuchsia. It evokes feelings of happiness, excitement, romance, maturity, assurance, acceptance, safety, self-confidence, and achievement. It’s warm red characteristics can have a comforting effect, promotes relaxation, intuition, and reflection. Fuchsia represents femininity, creativity, luxury, royalty and wealth.  All provisions from God.

Posted in authority, believe, faith, God, love, nostalgia, quote, Spiritual

Nostalgia

Posted on by deannagreensandgardenart

This week bring some nostalgia to your Valentine’s Day. A little goes a long way. Wear red or pink. Type a love letter. Gift a bouquet of flowers. Bake some cookies to share. Give an old-fashioned Valentine card. No sweetheart to spoil? How about the friends in your life, or someone who needs a friend? Bring lunch to your elderly neighbor. Your sweetheart has not been so sweet lately? Be the example. And pray for him or her. Quoting A.W. Tozer, “While it looks like things are out of control, behind the scenes there is a God who has not surrendered His authority.” With faith, love and believe.

"Most of all, have a true love for each other. Love covers many sins." 
~ 1 Peter 4:8 NLV
Posted in Alice Morse Earle, authors, change, church, Emotional, gift, God, Gretchen Rubin, Jesus, listen, love, prayer, present, quote, Spiritual, thankful, well, words

One Word For This Year

Posted on by deannagreensandgardenart

Years ago I would begin the new year with writing down a few resolutions, a list of goals to accomplish. I have curbed this down, so life’s goals can be more focused and obtainable. A couple of years ago I read a suggestion from author Gretchen Rubin. Think of one word to summarize your new year’s resolution(s). For example, this year Gretchen has chosen “revisit”. Her goals and actions in 2024 will reflect “revisit”. For me the word for this year is “present”. To coincide with the 7-dimensions of wellness model I believe in, for 2024 I have in mind to be “present” in the spiritual, physical, emotional, intellectual, social, environmental, and occupational aspects of my life. 

The first thought to the word “present” is to be “present moment”. That could fall into every aspect of my life, but I feel it most pertains to my spiritual life. Prayer, talking to God and being present with God throughout my day, every day, every moment. A relationship is a 2-way street, so listening to God every moment of every day throughout my day most importantly. ”Present day” is an extension of “present moment”. It is living each day like it is a present. “Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That’s why we call it ‘The Present’,” a saying attributed to Alice Morse Earle, Eleanor Roosevelt, Bil Keane, and A.A. Milne. Treat each day as a gift. Giving thanks to God for this day He has gifted me with. Like the awesome sunrise He gave me this morning as I sat on the couch looking out the front window covered with ice and snow. 

"This is the day which the Lord has made;
 Let’s rejoice and be glad in it." ~ Psalms 118:24 NASB

It is Sunday today. With the frigid subzero temperatures and my severe allergy to the cold, my husband and I chose to stay home and participate with the televised Mass from our home parish St. Charles Borromeo. So happy we chose to be present in this worship time and to hear the homily even if via online. This homily is one of the most compassionate messages to address nontraditional marriage. The truth is the infinite value God has placed on each and every human being at the price of the blood of Jesus Christ. Then charity shown by sharing and acting on this message of infinite value, and the change that takes place in each of us when meeting our Savior.

I will stop here for today. To be continued in future posts a reflection on the word “present” related to the other aspects of life. What’s your one word for this year?

Posted in bored, care, change, choice, creative, day, journal, life, live, meditation, prayer, quote, sacred, scripture, senses, Spiritual, write

Every Day

Posted on by deannagreensandgardenart

Is your everyday ordinary, ho hum? Bored with your daily routine? Your day doesn’t have to be this way. Choose to change every day into a special day. Liven it up today with a favorite tune played while on your route to work or drive a different route to work. Place a sugar-water filled hummingbird feeder just outside a window you frequently walk by and watch the little birds flit about at the feeder even if only for 3 or 4 minutes out of your day. Read a book on a subject new to you, so you can broaden your perspective and increase that grey brain matter. Tantalize your senses with a new perfume/cologne, a bouquet of freshly picked roadside blooms, comfy slippers, sweetened your tea with lavender or vanilla honey, read an inspirational short story or God’s holy scripture, create with crafts, or write a Haiku about something you see today.

“Life gives you plenty of time to do whatever you want to do if you stay in the present moment.” ~ Deepak Chopra

Simply be present moment for a few minutes each day. Journaling is the best way I know to capture the present moment. Make this your regular routine. I promise your life will be more enjoyable and even sacred when you take this care each day. “Everyday sacredness” poses as an oxymoron. Take a few moments today. Meditate, pray, create, journal.

Posted in art, art, author, bible, book, book, community, Family, gift, God, life, quote, sacred, scripture, truth, wisdom, words, write, writer

Words

Posted on by deannagreensandgardenart

Words are everywhere, even “in the land of elsewhere”. While attending a writer’s conference in Clarksville, TN I went inside a quaint gift boutique and ran across the cutest tags and cards from artisans at In The Land of Elsewhere. Online I read about the artisans, a family in Texas who have the quintessential family business using the gift of words and their artistic talents to design one-of-a-kind paper goods. Back to the writer’s conference, the theme for the two days was “the gift of writing in community”. I felt like I was “in the land of elsewhere”, and discovered I need others to continue this gift of writing. Many presenting authors shared their tidbits of wisdom. I went away with a list of books to read. I learned much being with a group of fellow writers.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God …”

~ James 1:5 NIV

Other word obsessions are found in those web-based games Words with Friends and Wordle and in blogs, magazines, and with the multi-media. Centuries of rhetoric scholars such as Aristotle have shared their words of persuasion. Books, books, and more books. I cannot be everywhere, but with a book I can be somewhere. There is one book, the Holy Bible with its many versions is my #1 source I take heed to, God’s inspired words for you and me. Sacred words. I bought a new bible a few months ago and hope to study it and meditate on these words every day until I die. The Word brings me closer to my Creator and Savior, and a guide for this life.

“Your Word is a lamp to guide my feet and light for my path.” ~ Psalms 119:105 NLT

Posted in clean, daughter, dirt, feelings, flower, God, health, heart, Holy Spirit, Jesus, life, mother, quote, redeemer, renew, scripture, unworthiness, walk

The Dirt of Life

Posted on by deannagreensandgardenart

Life can be messy sometimes. For some folks, maybe more so or less than you. We all have it. No one is immune to it. Dirt, the stuff that causes disorder, turmoil, feelings of unworthiness, unclean inside and/or outside. My daughter gave me a framed picture for Mother’s Day that says these words, “Every flower must grow through dirt.” What a lovely reminder, that beauty can be found in the midst of a mess. And fun, too. Remember those mud pies you made as a child? Also, healthy foods come from the dirt.

You can find dirt in my life, and I know there is some in yours because we are human. But let’s focus on the beauty that is present day. First, because of the gift of Jesus and His life, death, and resurrection, I am redeemed. You are, too! Psalms 25:8 tells us “The Lord is good and does what is right; He shows the proper path to those who go astray.” I am asking God, what are You leading me to, and what do You have planned for me today? The speed I go is not important, it is that I take step by step with His guidance. I am moving forward, are you?

“Create in me a clean heart, oh God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”

Psalms 51:10