Positive

I just finished reading several things that were posted on Facebook. This is something I do not often do. Lately, I don't see many posative things, that others are posting. That is very sad to me. Therefore, when I do post something, I make a effort to be posative. Someone who is reading most likely needs a virtual hug for one reason or another. Don't we all need a hug at times? We all have pain and struggles, but our focus is only on that and not the joyful and good things in our lives, we will miss the glimpse of Heaven we would have caught, even in the midst of stress and pain, peace exists. Sometimes we have to look a bit harder for it then others but never does the love of God leave us entirely. At times of great stress when we are at our lowest point, we can be joyful for life, if nothing else. May His love overshadow you, always.

Pain

   I came home from the dentist a few hours ago. She was suppose to look at my tooth that had been giving me problems, and take an x-ray. The x-ray showed that I had bone loss in the back. My tooth was also very loose. Therefore, she extracted the tooth. The looseness and bone loss was due to a huge cyst under the tooth. So large, in fact that, the dentist had never seen the like, and was surprised I didn't have much more pain. I drink ginger tea often. Fresh ginger root grated into water, with a bit of honey, is a wonderful overall health drink. It helps with pain & inflammation, along with other things. I told my dentist this, also that my doctors said I have a high threshold for pain. This is good, and bad. Pain tells us when something is wrong. It lets us know that our body needs help. It's Gods' way of helping us know when to change something. It will certainly get your attention, if it's severe enough.
    Although we do not like pain, it can be helpful. God has used pain in constructive ways to help His children. The Bible speaks of the Apostle Paul asking for a spirit that was buffeting him, to be removed, most likely some kind of physical pain. However, God said His grace was sufficient. Paul was the recipient of vast amounts of spiritual gifts. God was not about to allow him go down the road His most perfect angel, Lucifer, had gone down. Lucifer became prideful and sin was found in him. Therefore Lucifer was thrust out of the presence of God.
    Pain makes us cry out to our Heavenly Father and have communication we may not otherwise have had with Him. What is giving you pain? Have you ever thought that it could simply be God's way of getting you to change something that is harmful to you? May it be that God wants to communicate but you are too busy? My dad said many times, "When you are flat on your back, the only place you can look, is UP!" Perhaps looking up is all you need to do, to remove pain.

Oh, the Inhumanity!

    Anyone who knows me, is well aware that my immediate family does not patronize fast food establishments, with few exceptions. Chic-Fil-A, Subway & Wendy's, because they have food choices that meet my, no MSG, High fructose, trans fat laden, GMO (Genetically Mortified Organism), standards. I feed my family healthy meals from scratch, most of the time. Lately however, I have been horribly bad. I have eaten the McDonalds double cheeseburger and small fries meal deal, because it's only $2.50, for like three days a week, for the last two weeks. Oh the inhumanity, the degradation, the nitrites, MSG, horrible GMO, crap laden........ deliciousness, that is fast food, Yum! I did drink my own filtered water from home, in a glass jar though.
    Sarah said today, "We do not go to fast food because it's bad, right mom"! I said, "Well yes, for the most part, except that I have bee eating McDonalds lately". She yelled, "Nooooo, the shame you have brought upon me, and horribleness of that creepy clown"! Then I said in a whisper, "they have forty nine cent ice-cream cones too." I didn't have any of those though. I just wanted to mess with Sarah. She screamed all the more with her hands to her ears, "NOOOOOO MOM, Dairy Queen is better!" I said, "Yeah, cause that's way healthier right? It just costs more, that's all!"
    Yes, the simple fact is that the food at most fast food establishments is not nutritious. In a similar way, some people try to make the Bible into fast food, and dine on the Genetically Mortified Organism of the world, then wonder why they aren't spiritually healthy. I have news, my body hates me the last few days, due to my horrible dining choices. Similarly, when we don't read the word, talk to Father God and forsake good Christian counsel, we become spiritually weak. Our inner spirit begins to starve and sometimes we don't even realize this, until something happens to draw our attention to the void. We are all guilty of being spiritually depleted at times. It's nothing that some prayer, quiet time with God and His word, won't cure though. May the inhumanity of a lack of good spiritual food subside, as we once again, dine on God's every word and I begin to juice fresh veggies and fruit.

Burn Bright!

A song welled up in my spirit today and I began to weep-profusely actually-when I began to ponder it's words. Jesus went to great lengths to ransom and redeem us so that we-as His bride-who now is Life of His Life and Spirit of His Spirit because of the death, burial, resurrection AND ascension having received "a part of Himself" can now carry out His heart and His cause.


We know that darkness cannot over take light. His main modus operandi is to have HIS Light, Life and Love now shine through us. I pray that we can arise to that occasion and accept the challenge more than ever!! My heart is pricked. I Love HIM and being one with Him I now desire wholeheartedly to allow HIS portion of Light in me to shine forth more intentionally! Thank you Lord for your enablement for same. I pray that by your enablement and the equipping of your bride with promise that you would put the necessary words in our mouth to speak forth that as effortlessly as we with gratitude, celebration and joy in candlelight services lean to light the candle of our neighbor that we would lean into you and reach the broken, hurting and lost and be a catalyst for your Spirit to burn brightly in each and every one. AMEN!


Go Light Your World

By Chris Rice

There is a candle in every soul
Some brightly burning, some dark and cold
There is a Spirit who brings a fire
Ignites a candle and makes His home

So carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the helpless, confused and torn
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world
Take your candle, and go light your world

Frustrated brother, see how he's tried to
Light his own candle some other way
See now your sister, she's been robbed and lied to
Still holds a candle without a flame

So Carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the lonely, the tired and worn
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world
Take your candle, and go light your world

Cause We are a family whose hearts are blazing
So let's raise our candles and light up the sky
Praying to our Father, in the name of Jesus
Make us a beacon in darkest times

So Carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the helpless, deceived and poor
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world

Carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the helpless, confused and torn
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world
Take your candle, and go light your world
Take your candle, and go light your world

Give, But Be Careful to Give Well

    This week I was presented with, well, an issue. I am about to explain to my boss that I will not be at work after a certain date, however, I am able to do my job from any place. The issue is that, I am not only doing my job currently, but my coworker's as well. Therefore, they will be loosing two people, in essence.
    I have been bothered and upset, worried that everything will go well in my physical absence as I try to do my job remotely and help them with the other job. That is, until I was slapped in the face with the reality that my boss cares more for others that are less deserving, and gives to them, while those that work hard for him, not only myself, have been woefully neglected. That isn't enough though, it was thrown into my face. So, I am very happy to report that my anxiety to tell him of the upcoming changes has departed, along with any unnecessary concern. Especially in light of the fact that I will be giving a notice that is three times longer then most.
    You see God knows the heart of everyone. He knows when someone gives good and when some do not give good. When those that have given good and receive bad instead, He rights the wrong and gives peace to the ones harmed. Peace is a gift only God can give. "Give and it will be given to you, pressed down, shaken together and overflowing will men give unto your bosom, says The Lord". Therefore, be careful to give good gifts to all within your power to do so. Thankfully, peace prevails for me. Bless be to God. I am in His hands, not others.

Redressed

It's a five-dollar dress from the clearance rack at Meijer, but I feel so cute. My husband gave it the thumbs up and I'm wearing it to the Art Museum. Feeling better doesn't take much sometimes. Sometimes I think our guardian angels do a little rack rearranging to cheer us up. Be on the lookout for love today, love divine, love angelic, true love, love of the next-door-neighbor variety. They all carry joy, and we need it.

Worn Out Things and Stitching

    Unless you live under a rock, you probably know that Father's Day is this coming Sunday. Every year I get Paul something, and every year he takes it back. He can't stand to let me spend money on him, weird. I went to one of my favorite stores and purchased shorts to replace his shorts that once again, have holes. Yes, he still wares those shorts after stitching them back together, to the best of his ability. I hate to sew, and have successfully obscured the fact that I am actually quite good at it. I have successfully avoided the purchase of three sewing machines. Two of which were returned because something was wrong with them, Praise God! The afore mentioned new shorts were on sale, yay me! I have figured out a plan, to ensure he will keep his gifts this year. We give Sarah an allowance. I am simply going to give her extra allowance this week & she can get daddy a gift, ha! Rather, she can give him the gifts I got, and we can say she got them with her allowance. It's fool proof......I hope.
    I wanted one thing for Mother's day. A new pair of comfy cotton sleep pants, because mine are hanging around my waist by a thread, literally. I could stitch them, but that's not likely to happen. I received a pair of dress pants and capris instead. I took back the horrible printed dress pants but the capris fit, and look nice. Still looking for said sleep ware. Perhaps I should have purchased two pair 15 years ago, when I bought the original ones. I guess I am as bad as Paul, when it comes to dawning worn out items.
    Thankfully, in Heaven, nothing will ware out, Ever. There will be no need to stich items back together. I will have successfully avoided said project for eternity. Now that's Heaven for me. Nothing will ware out, and there is no need to sew anything, Ever. Yes, Oh Yes!!! Until Heaven, I will have to employ my excellent avoidance tactics. I'm pathetic. I know this. However, I don't often have to stitch worn out things. Happy Father's Day to me too.