Posted in heart, Jesus, pain, Physical, scripture, Spiritual, thankful, truth, words, write

What Kind of Words

What kind of words come from my lips when I am in arthritic pain? Kind words? Not most of the time. I stay silent as this is better than cursing. But if truth be told, if cursing is your only expression while in pain, go for it. Your existence matters, whether kind words come out or the sobering truth words are uttered aloud.

“Be thankful in all circumstances. This is what God wants from you in your life in union with Christ Jesus.

~ 1 Thessalonians 5:18 GNT

Words of gratitude is what I aim for. I started a daily gratitude practice this month. On paper I list out three things I am thankful for each morning. It ranges from my arthritic joints, my breath, boundaries, a budget, Earl Grey tea, blueberry kuchen, my job, skills to be able to work, my Dean, my Rachel, my Elisabeth, my Ben, knowing my father and mother for many years, an ability to write, communication, words … the list goes on and on. Pain is such an annoying state of being. So many of us bear through it. Several of my loved ones lived with it and others still live with it.

My prayer and words of encouragement are to take your pain to the arms of Jesus. He is there for you always! Whether it be physical and/or emotional pain, He is wanting your heart, curse words, and all. Words of thanks are what changes your heart.

Posted in compassion, Emotional, eyes, faith, God, heart, heaven, hope, Mental, mercy, Physical, prayer, scripture, Spiritual, temporal

A Heart Knowing

Do you ever talk until your blue in the face, like talking to a wall or deaf ears? Maybe the trouble is that the person you are trying to reach has a stoppage somewhere. Either the head doesn’t know, or it is that the heart doesn’t know, or both.

Uh, prayer! Prayer for me for more patience. And prayer for him to open up his doors to God’s heart of compassion and mercy. Look beyond what can be seen with the physical eyes. Big eyes of faith, I call to our Father for this because I lack right now.

To have faith is to be sure of the things we hope for, to be certain of the things we cannot see. ~ Hebrews 11:1 GNT

And for him, that he realize what is more important. The physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being of our loved ones or stuff, stuff that is temporal. Give each of us a heart knowing and then, living out God’s heart in these matters. Two hearts melting together for a heavenly purpose.

 For we fix our attention, not on things that are seen, but on things that are unseen. What can be seen lasts only for a time, but what cannot be seen lasts forever. ~ 2 Corinthians 4:18 GNT

Posted in breathe, brother, challenges, comfort, day, death, devastation, Family, feelings, friend, God, grief, heart, help, Holy Spirit, hurt, Jesus, love, need, pain, praise, prayer, scripture, sorrow

The Grief

This day before the winter solstice is a cold blustery day. It is colder this afternoon than it was when I was up at 5am this morning. The forecast promises the winter solstice to be the same. The cold wind slaps my face and takes my breath away like the cold-hard fact that my brother is not here on earth any longer.

The grief of it all is too much some days. I went into my boss’ office the other day and had a “good cry”. Just days ago I wrote on my other blog a post about my 65-year-old brother’s untimely death, and how good will come of it. Today, I am thinking, why, God? What good comes from the death of a loved one? And if only Dean or I had been available to take Rick and Joan to the airport, so he wouldn’t have had to clean the snow off their car and have that heart incident the day they arrived back at Lambert Field.

I know I am bargaining now. I cannot reverse what has been done. The “if only” cannot change the outcome. Bargaining is one of the stages of grief. This online resource describes the 5 or 7 stages of grief. These are the basic five: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. The seven stages expand on the five: shock/denial, pain/guilt, anger/bargaining, depression, the upward turn, reconstruction/working through, and acceptance/hope.

A friend of ours lost his son and two grandchildren in a fatal car accident on Tuesday. The pain these friends and their family are feeling must be incredibly deep. The wife and mother of the two children, I cannot even fathom where her heart is right now. All I can do is pray, “God, gracious Father, send your Holy Spirit to comfort. Bring each sorrow to a place where a healing salve gently massages the raw, open heart to receive Your Love, Your Words, Your Comfort.”

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God." ~ 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NIV
Posted in bible, change, God, listen, quiet, Spiritual, steps, stillness, trust, wisdom, world

Order My Steps

"There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord." ~ Proverbs 21:30

Doesn’t time seem to stand still when change is desired? Difficult circumstances can suffocate the good air that is left to breath in. Stifling. Do your thoughts spin like a migraine that won’t let loose? Stuck between a rock and a hard place, no space for movement. With all the knowledge and wisdom, the world has to offer still it is our God who orders our steps and is in charge. We may not see that we are weary, and we need to rest. Be still and quiet long enough to listen and hear His voice. Make that choice to listen to our God. The key is found in His written word. Then step out and know in your heart, “There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord.” Trust our God who loves you and me.

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

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 Christmas, church, courage, God, hate, heart, Holy Spirit, Jesus, love, peace, prayer, purpose, scripture, strength, strife

Willingness and Readiness

“Prepare for God’s arrival!
Make the road straight and smooth,
a highway fit for our God."

~ Isaiah 40:3 The Message version

Christmas Day is two weeks away. Are you prepared in your heart? Am I prepared in my heart? All the commercialism can get me off track. Even going to church this past Sunday white twinkle lights at the altar are blinking to catch attention. Has the commercialism invaded the church sanctuary, too? Preparing for Jesus is a heart matter.

This craziness this world is in can have our heads spinning and our hearts aching. The hatred, wars, and unrest are disturbing, distracting from what matters. The love of God is there for each of us to embrace. Hatred has to stop! We think we arrive with our religious views, rituals, and teachings. But what is in each heart of man, woman, and child?

"As John preached he said, 'The real action comes next: The star in this drama, to whom I’m a mere stagehand, will change your life. I’m baptizing you here in the river, turning your old life in for a kingdom life. His baptism—a holy baptism by the Holy Spirit—will change you from the inside out.'"
~ Mark 1:8 The Message version

God, change me from the inside out. Help me to be an instrument of Your peace, Your love, and Your purposes. Give me courage and strength to carry out Your will today, tomorrow, and always.

Posted in change, choice, diversity, farmer, follow, God, heart, Holy Spirit, Jesus, joy, life, love, prayer, purpose, repent, understand, wisdom, words

The Biscuit Prayer and His Purposes

I have been complaining about the season I am in, and the cards I have been dealt. Negativism dominated my thoughts. I have prayed for a changed heart. A refocus on Jesus and His purposes not mine. I am making an effort to be more present moment and in prayer. Ash Wednesday begins the Lent season this week. Attending the evening bi-lingual Mass at our neighborhood church, I recognize the mediative beats of the rosary being said by our Hispanic brothers and sisters. There were plenty of noon time rosary reciting at a nearby church during the noon hour when I worked in Clayton. Cannot mistake that mediative beat. The priest says “repent and return to Christ” while marking a cross on my forehead with black ash. That is the Holy Spirit speaking through Father Godefroid.

I read this story I am calling “The Biscuit Prayer”

A pastor asked an older farmer, decked out in bib overalls, to say grace for the morning breakfast.  

“Lord, I hate buttermilk”, the farmer began. The visiting pastor opened one eye to glance at the farmer and wonder where this was going.  

The farmer loudly proclaimed, “Lord, I hate lard.” Now the pastor was growing concerned.  

Without missing a beat, the farmer continued, “And Lord, you know I don’t much care for raw white flour”. The pastor once again opened an eye to glance around the room and saw that he wasn’t the only one to feel uncomfortable.  

Then the farmer added, “But Lord, when you mix them all together and bake them, I do love warm fresh biscuits. So Lord, when things come up that we don’t like, when life gets hard, when we don’t understand what you’re saying to us, help us to just relax and wait until you are done mixing. It will probably be even better than biscuits. Amen.”  

Within that prayer there is great wisdom for all when it comes to complicated situations like we are experiencing in the world today.  

Stay strong, my friends, because our LORD is mixing several things that we don’t really care for, but something even better is going to come when HE is done with it. AMEN!

“Don’t try to boil the ocean,” I heard on a webinar this week. Change one thing at a time. What’s the one thing I can change? Myself. The me, myself, and I attitude, actions, and words. Unlike the trio: Me, Myself, and I Personal Pizzas made in the kids’ cooking class this week. More like this trio: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. “Thank You, Father for creating me. Thank You, Jesus for loving me. I love You because You loved me first. Thank You for Your guidance every day, Holy Spirit. Let me serve God’s purposes today. Let me be faithful today. Let me share Jesus’ love today.”

Posted in angels, Ann Voskamp, Christmas, holy, Jesus, joy, love, Mother Mary, night, peace, Rejoice, scripture, Spiritual, star

Holy Night

In all your preparations for this Holy Night, let Jesus be the reason! He loves you and wants to be with you! Pause, let your heart accept Him, and rejoice!

Silent night, holy night!
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and Child.
Holy Infant, so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight;
Glories stream from heaven afar,
Heav’nly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ the Savior is born,
Christ the Savior is born!

Silent night, holy night!
Son of God, love’s pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth.

Silent night, holy night!
Wondrous star, lend thy light;
With the angels let us sing,
Alleluia to our King;
Christ the Savior is born,
Christ the Savior is born!

~Josef Mohr

Posted in book, children, editor, Emotional, faith, fight, heart, life, mother, prayer, quote, silence, soul, vulnerable, warm, Warrior, woman, words, write, writer

Wordsmithery

It all started with words scribbled in a journal 40 years ago as a young mother, excited and overwhelmed at the same time with my new role as a parent of a little one. I have kept a journal since. It is not a locked diary like as a pre-teen, as my words are an open book. I keep no secrets. I write my heart and eventually some words come out in blog form, poetry, and short stories. A few weeks ago, I was contacted by Flapper Press to request an interview for an article in their newsletter. Included in the interview were three poems I wrote about various topics that have stirred my emotions regarding the basic human need for warmth in the winter, a woman’s vulnerability, and Ukraine’s fight for democracy. I submitted these to the Flapper Press editor, Annie prior to the interview request. Read Annie’s write-up for more details.

Flapper Press

I return to pen and paper or the other form of word processing, a laptop computer as the need arises. Which is just about daily. Wordsmithery has become a way of being for me. Playing “Word With Friends” or Scrabble, daily use of the online dictionary, and reading are all a part of my obsession with words. As a child my mother would tell me to pick up a book and read. No one has to encourage me with that anymore. Now I am a wordsmith by necessity. “I am a poet and didn’t even know it”. I believe that is an old saying that has rung true to me as an adult. This quiet soul has words welling up to share. Many words. With prayer and faith let them be His words.

“So give me Words to speak, don’t let my Spirit sleep.”

Aaron Shust
Posted in choice, community, daughter, earth, Family, farmer, friends, gossip, heart, holy, hurt, insecurity, job, karma, kind, life, purpose, rain, refresh, scripture, water, words

Ebb and Flow

Just one word. The right word. The ebb and flow of one right word with its syllables, pronunciation, and perfect timing. It drops into a pool of water, and ripples through wave after wave until it returns to you, refreshing and uplifting. Like that of karma, the spiritual principle of cause and effect.  Holy scriptures tell us, “Just as rain and snow descend from the skies and don’t go back until they’ve watered the earth, doing their work of making things grow and blossom, producing seed for farmers and food for the hungry, so will the words that come out of my mouth not come back empty-handed. They’ll do the work I sent them to do, they’ll complete the assignment I gave them.”

I had an interview today for a half-time position desired with the local library.  I am semi-retired.  The income from this job I seek will assist with my daughter’s medical needs, treatments not covered by insurance. So, plenty of pressure.  After answering their questions, the best I could, the managers asked if I had any questions for them.  I hope my three questions were appropriate.  An old proverb says, “Whoever speaks a word at an opportune time is like apples of gold on beds of silver.”  I am feeling insecure about one question I asked the managers of the local library, whether it was appropriate during this interview.  I asked about security at the library.  Maybe the timing was not appropriate?  I suppose because of my past experiences, this is a concern of mine.  A person never quite gets over assault, extra vigilant anywhere she goes, even at the local library. Apparently, somebody else has been concerned about security at the library because I learned they have a security officer stationed there in the afternoons and evenings to deter possible crime.

The ebb and flow of one wrong word is like a boomerang cutting everything it touches.  It abruptly comes back to you, can cut you like a knife.  Hopefully this is not the case for my question asked at the interview, maybe not the best time and it may have costed my job offer.  But wrong words spoken in gossip are a boomerang, cuts the heart and life of the people who hear the gossip, shredding the relationships of the victim as well as the gossipers.  It destroys families, friends, and communities.  Do not let your words haunt you, hang you, behead you.  Choose words wisely.  If an apology is necessary, make it right while you have today as there are no guarantees for tomorrow.  Let the droplet of a kind word permeate into the souls of those hear it, and the refreshment of that word will return to you wave after wave after wave.  The ebb and flow of one right word.