Thought You'd Enjoy This Picture That Was Sent To Me

Isn't this beuatiful!!! God created this and no man can take the glory for this beauty that we are so graciously allowed to enjoy. See the beauty in the earth today and also in others and remember that people are created in God's image. God creates beauty.

Do Not Let PRIDE Cause You From Seeking Help When You Need It. There Just May Be A Hidden Blessing Tucked Inside Of The Help.

I have learned throughout the years and even more recent, the importance of not being prideful and to seek help when you need it. Pride will be your downfall if you allow it to be the master of your life. You have to learn to let false pride go out the window and seek a bit of humbleness in your life. To be humble means that you are letting your own wants and desires to be suppressed and allowing the help of others to touch your life. In a perfect world we would all be the giver of great gifts and forever exchanging gifts with others right? At one stage in your life maybe you had to be the receiver of these gifts and now you are in a position to be the blesser of others with the resources you have to allow them to be blessed. Experiencing both is a healthy place to be, for you now have empathy for those that are postured with humility. Never forget the days in which you were in a position in which you sought help. Were there not people out there that helped you out? If you answer no to that question then does that mean you were prideful and refused to seek the help of others? Only you can answer that. The other point being that maybe you were not prideful and the very people you reached out to had a deaf ear to your cry or plea for help. You know there are people out there that I have found to be "takers" and they just do not know how to give. Pray for them because they must live a lonely life. Even though they may be surrounded by people they can still live a lonesome life did you know that? There are others that heard your plea for help and chose to not listen and block it out. It meant that they would have to possibly put themselves out to reach out to another.
I have found out that the people you thought you can count on are not always the very one's that extend a hand to you. Did you find that to be true also? Remember that we are human and not everyone can read a person's mind or their thoughts and sometimes you have to just come out and ask another for their help. Once you ask then it truly is in the arms of the person you sought help from. They can either extend their hands and heart in your direction or they can fold their arms and ignore the plea. Do not assume that a person that does not respond does it out of lack of love. For if you cannot express the need to a person then how can you expect them to respond? You can't and do not expect to receive a response. Pride will hold you back if you let it do that. I was most recently in a situation in which I chose to let pride take a backseat and I sought help. I feel the worst that one could say to you is "no."  When you begin to seek help it is amazing that the one step forward connects you to another and so forth. The next thing you know the need has been met. It is called networking. Your initial contact then connects you with another and so forth.
I challenge you to seek help when there is a need in your life. Sometimes it comes in seeking prayer from another and other times it comes in the fashion of just plainly asking for help. It is not always help in the form of a physical need. It can be something as simple as asking one to make a phone call for you or to give a great recommendation on your behalf as a former employer in a job situation. Do not let the doors of creativity be closed in your mind for it is in the opening up of your ideas that a connection is made. Never tire of hearing the cries or pleas of those that are learning how to ask for help. Not everyone can be a pro at asking for help. Many may have never found themselves prior to this time in their life in a situation in which they needed help. You know why that is? It is because they were always the one that extended their hands to others and now they have to learn how to receive from others. Let your pride take a vacation and seek out those that are sensitive to hearing the voice of Holy Spirit. They will be the faithful that come to your side and help you keep your arms lifted up like Aaron did for Moses.
This is a great time for me to remind you of what I wrote about many times, the meaning of the letters in the word PRIDE:
Prancing
Right
Into
Destructive
Exile
Pride will keep you isolated and isolation is not good for you all the time. Just before I wrote this I was talking with a college friend of mine and how we laugh. We really do laugh and there is just something about this friend that brings out the silliness in me and at the same time creativity pops out too. Laughter is good it really is and it is OK to crack a smile now and then too.

Off To The Races, May The Blessed Man And Woman Win!!!

Off to my alma mater for the Homecoming festivities. My son has been nominated for Homecoming King and it will be announced at the college football game. Great to be with family, and maybe some alumni/alumnae friends and good food too. I hope. You never know what to expect when it comes to a meal at a college campus. Such an honor to even be invited as the parent of one of the possibly elected Homecoming King and Queen. I will write about it later today.

Carman The Prayer Anthem- Another favorite video of mine. A tribute to my children's heritage.

A little tribute to my children, they have Irish/Scottish heritage in them, along with German/Croatian and English/Welsh too. Once, when I went to the former Yugoslavia our plane landed in Ireland at the Shannon Airport to re-fuel. It was just beautiful seeing all the green as the plane landed. Only got to see it from the air there was no time allotted to see anything of Ireland outside of the airport.

Today is the 12 year anniversary of my eldest brother dying and the 11 year anniversary of my father giving his heart to Jesus. See the banner I created and view the video of the song by Carman that inspired me.

I came across the other day a copy of a letter I sent to the Christian singer, Carman. It was sent along with a few pictures of a banner I made while listening to a song he wrote/sang. The letter was dated 2/25/2001. I will share a picture of that very banner. That banner was given to a person from a church in Bradford, England. Let me share the story of the banner with you if I may.

Dad's Banner shared with him at the hospice house and then on the altar for his funeral mass.

"Blessings Carman,
Greetings and welcome to Cleveland, Ohio. I saw in the Connection Magazine that the 'Heart of a Champion Tour' is coming to Cleveland, the end of March.
I write to you this day to thank you-the Lord inspires you with music and at times it's important for you to hear a story of how the music you sing inspires others. I'm enclosing 3 pictures of a banner that the Lord gave to me it is the only banner that I've ever made in which the Lord instructed me to put on the back of the banner the date and time in which the Lord gave me the original design.
Then, on another day the Lord spoke to my heart to go and gather the materials needed to make the banner. Then, on another day the Lord spoke to my heart this is the day to assemble the banner. This is where you come in. On that particular day the Lord put it in my heart to play a particular song "Jesus Is The Lamb" not just once did I play it every time it was over I kept the remote control near me to keep playing it over and over again. I completed the banner.
Many times I wanted to take the banner and mail it to you but I couldn't for it had another purpose and this story I share with you is why...
When I became born again I fell away from the Catholic Church and into a non-denominational Pentecostal church. My father was a staunch Catholic -he thought I was in some sort of cult-little did he know that I was learning truth and how to evangelize. My father became ill and found himself in the hospital. He was weeks away from dying and the Lord used me in this situation. It was the 1 year anniversary of my oldest brothers death (my father's 1st born son.) My father came out of surgery and I told him that I loved him and Jesus loved him-in that moment he said to me "Find me Jesus." I then led him to the Lord. That was September 22, 1999. My father died October 3, 1999. A few days before he died he was released from the hospital and admitted to a hospice house. It was beautiful and on the lake...This is where the banner comes in...I stayed the night with him the Friday before he died that Sunday morning.
The Lord instructed me to go and get the banner and bring it into his room-before I brought it to his room the Lord told me to show it to another patient across the hall from my father-I then showed it to Freida (an older Catholic woman.)
In my father's room there was a nail already on the wall as if it was waiting for the banner. That banner stayed in my father's room until he went to be with the Lord.
The Lord put it in my heart, next, to use it at my father's funeral mass. The family gathered around my father's dead body mourning, while we waited for my sister to come in from Atlanta. The Lord said to me 'do not mourn with them rejoice he's with Me and then He said Go to Frieda it is time to lead her to Me.' I did in obedience and she gave her heart to the Lord. I often wonder if the Lord set that up to allow my father to see the truth in which I shared with him-I told him that in the moment he gave his heart to Jesus his name was recorded in the Lamb's Book of Life and all the angels in heaven rejoiced in that moment.
My sister and I were allowed to select the Gospel readings for his mass but we could not read them since we were not practicing Catholics. I asked the priest if I could share my father's faith in his last days. He allowed that-the banner was at the altar beside the pulpit. There were either 7 or 8 priests on that altar and a deacon and I asked the Lord for strength as I stood up to share with the people. I shared the story of how I led my father to Jesus and I ended it by telling them that if anything I shared with them touched their heart that  I invited them to invite Jesus into their hearts. I paused for a moment and then spoke 'Holy Spirit seal the words that were spoken  into the hearts of the people that asked Jesus into their hearts. Amen.'
The banner came home with me and I hung it on a wall for anyone to see that entered my home. A group of people from a church in Bradford, England were ministering and one of the ladies makes beautiful, anointed banners and the Lord spoke to my heart to bless her with it and I did. Continue in your ministry Carman, from that 1 song "Jesus Is The Lamb", look how it inspired me and from that inspiration souls were won to the Lord. Hallelujah!!! Praise the Lord."
I then shared why I would not be able to attend his concert due to me serving in ministry that weekend. You should know by now how I like to back up my stories I share with you so I will share an excerpt of the composing of the letter I drafted. That is how I did it back then. I drafted it and then copied it onto fine stationery or a very nice note card. You know the art of writing a note seems to be replaced with quick Emails or text messages. Do not let the art of sending thank you notes written by your own hand go to the wayside. Would you not rather receive a hand written note of thanks than a brief thank you via Email or text message?  I added the link for you to view the video of the song that inspired me. Being a Christian is not boring and viewing this video shows one that it really can be fun.

Excerpt from a letter I drafted

http://www.YouTube.com/watch?v=5C8kF56u40k

Carman - Jesus is the Lamb-The song that inspired me as I created a banner.

I Was Going Through Pictures Recently. You Probably Figured That One Out By My Prior Blogs. There Is A Lesson In All Of This, Are You Healed From A Past Hurt?



I love this picture frame along with the 2 pictures inside of it





Me sitting pretty, where's my smile?





You may be wondering why I have been posting so many pictures lately? I recently went through photographs and it reminded me of what fun I had when my children were younger and still do have with them being older now. You see, this was an opportunity to then go ahead and set aside photographs of the children with their father. When families split up through a divorce I would guess to say that there are probably far more fathers than mothers that probably did not take family photo's with them. Just a guess of mine. Even though the marriage ended in divorce, it does not erase family pictures that were taken and the happy memories that may have went along with the pictures in that season of your life right? I encourage all that went through or may be going through a divorce to be kind to the other spouse and give to them pictures so they will keep of their memories too. As I went through the pictures I pulled out several for my children to give to their father when they see him next. That my friend is a good indicator that you are healed from the divorce. If you can sit down and go through family pictures and then bless the other spouse with them that is a sign that you have matured and you can now go forth in your own life. When you go through the pictures do not be stingy either. Think of it like this, if you were in the reverse situation would you not want to get some good pictures and not just average pictures? Remember, that other person was a significant part of your life and the lives of your children up to a certain point in your life so why not extend a hand of kindness to them.

Serious side of me



Great pose. What is it about me? In a prior picture my daughter was sitting in her doll's rocking chair and now her brother is sitting in her doll's stroller.



If you should find yourself sitting in the dark with a candle or two do not be afraid God speaks in the dark too.

A few days ago I found myself sitting in the dark with a few candles and no distractions. You may say to yourself that is quite odd. It is odd unless you had your electricity interrupted. I was extended an invitation to stay at a friends house that evening and I declined the generous offer. I really felt Holy Spirit saying to me to rest in Him that very night. That is exactly what I did. I sat with a few candles lit and there was a beautiful glow to my home. I even read the bible by candlelight. As I was resting I was shown one of those bleeps I use to get when I first became born again. I described them to you several times before. When this happens the image just appears before me. I had my dream interpretation book near me so I looked it up. It was not a dream I was awake I sought this book because it has explanations of symbols that people tend to remember in a dream. This is a very insightful book that you can order on my blog page if you whisk through the carousel of books at the top of my page. This is what I was shown, seven rams and what stood out most were their horns. I know nothing about rams but they looked like they were ready to charge into battle of some sorts. Since the main thing I saw were the horns and the number of them that I counted that is what I researched. This is what I found, seven represents complete; all; finished; rest. Horns represent authority; power; ability; kings; anointing. I just knew to rest in the King's (Jesus) anointing from the interpretation and that is exactly what I did. That particular day was a bit draining on me and the rest in the Lord was quite welcome. Things happen in life and I am seeing that satan really can ask for the hedge of protection that is around a believer to be lifted to see if you will still praise or curse God. What do you think I did that day? If you know me at all you answered that I found praise in that very day. I will share this with you. Those that you least think would come to your aid are the very one's that did. Those that one would think would try and assist tend to fall to the wayside for whatever reason. I think when one discovers this in their life that the mere thought of being forgotten can take a toll on you far greater than one would think. Do not let yourself stay there. Get up and go onward and upward OK. We have all been there before, being let down. A quitter stays there in that mindset but not an "energizer bunny". Yes, that is what I equate my likeness to. I just keep getting back up and moving in a forward motion.
Very few around me knew the happenings of that day. I love to do this when things are down I tend to strengthen up and go and minister to someone. That particular day I sought a new testament bible and went to the mechanic that I led to the Lord a few weeks ago and handed it to him. I told him that he will get to know who he really is through the life of Jesus and for him to read it. If he ever needed direction and no one would be around he would find it by picking up that book and reading it. I spoke with a man that evening and out of nowhere he said to me that I should write a book. I shared with him that I am already doing that via my blog for now. One day you will see this book you truly will see it. I learned the other day that part of this book is me; my life; and daily experiences married with the wisdom of Holy Spirit and His creativity flowing through me. I then encouraged this man to write too. He also takes photographs and I shared with him that he can add his pictures to his writing if he used the vehicle of a blog page. I went to sleep and had peace all day long if that makes sense. I woke very early the next day while it was still dark outside and something unusual happened to me. This time my eyes were closed and it was as if I was seeing a video being shown to me. It lasted several minutes and I will not share what was shown to me for that is for me to tuck into my heart for another time.
Two times within a short span of time I was able to get guidance from Holy Spirit all because I had no distractions around me. Rest is a good thing and a very good thing at that. It really is. When you are hit hard with something do not grumble and complain find something in your life to be thankful about and reach out to someone that just may need your ministry. It boils down to this it is not all about you and what you want, and your whining and complaining it is about reaching out to others. If you reach out to others and even strangers too as a part of your life then when your time of need may happen to hit you do not be surprised that Holy Spirit will place those around you that will aid you. Do not reach out to others with the intent of seeking something in return you must cultivate this as a part of your lifestyle in which you are truly drawn to others with a heart of compassion driven by love. Yes, that is it. Driven by nothing other than love for people. If you let the Lord, He will place this love inside of your heart so you will then be able to share it with others. It is nice to bless those you know but what is even finer is to bless those that you may not know today but through the blessing you will know them tomorrow. Seek the Lord with all your heart, truly seek Him. In the seeking of Him you will find a life that is full of wonder and when you retire at the end of a day you will look back on His hand guiding you throughout the day. You will see His touch in your life through the lives of others interacting in your life.
Before I close for the evening let me share with you an update on how many wasps were caught in the wasp catcher. I cleaned it out several days ago and there were over 100. I stopped counting when I hit 100.

One more thought, I never dreamt that so many people would be blessed by the little tribute I created for my daughter via smilebox. A project created for her with love in my heart. Imagine that!!!

I Woke From A Dream Today Refreshed Because I Was Laughing A Hearty Laugh In My Dream

Yep, that is exactly what happened to me this morning. I woke up and had a great feeling because I remembered I was laughing in my dream. Not just a laugh but it was a hearty laugh, that is a good thing, a very good thing at that too. I think I needed to laugh a bit because I realized something the other day and I felt a little bad about it. Many months ago I shared a piece of advice with a person and I come to find out that the advice I shared was not right. Back then I thought it was right. It was not until the other day when Holy Spirit reminded me about something in my very life that happened that contradicted the advice I shared with this person. What can I say other than I am sorry and I hope there is forgiveness in your heart and that I am not perfect. I am learning along with the rest of you about life.
This is what I shared with this person. I suggested that if a child likes a person you may be seeing or thinking of taking it to the level of marriage to trust what they say. I said something like this that kids know these things and to trust if they like the person. WRONG. Here is what happened to me in my life. I was in grade school and on two occasions my mother had the opportunity to date two different men at one time or another (not at the same time.) I did not like the idea of her dating anyone and if she did it would take away from the time she spent with us because she was already working full time to support us. The one guy for sure I did not like and the other man I did not want it to advance because I did not like his last name. You see, in retrospect, the one would have given my mother and us a finer life (we had a good life it would have been finer.) To this day whenever my mom has the occasion of running into him he always asks how the children are doing. I, in one respect because of my selfishness stopped my mother from being pursued by a good man. When you think about it I was really a kid and I had no business putting up a stink for her to block her from happiness did I? Kids are not capable of helping to make such a big decision for an adult. We want to please our children and make them happy and want it to so badly work that if we allow them to choose for us we may end up with a wrong partner. Think back, I was a kid and to me I let something as little as not liking the last name of the person be a reason in my mind. I did not tell that to my  mom I just put up a stink about it. There was a good, honorable and upright man that could have given us a wonderful life that I thought was not for us. That is why it is not wise to let your children decide if a person is right or not right for your life. They are not adults and not capable of weighing out with sense why one should or should not be with another.
Adults should make these decisions and be seeking counsel from sound minded adults and most importantly, seeking the Lord and He will tell you yes or no. That is the true one to seek. Remember, who God sets aside for your life may not be the first choice for a child because they are all about themselves at that stage in their lives. So, if a person comes along that has order in their life a child that only wants to have fun may not like the order that will come to their life. In the end as they grow into adulthood they will be glad that order did come into their life for it can be used to springboard them off into their destiny. You can't always have fun, fun, fun without the balance of order too. Fun is good and it definitely has a place in life, it balances the serious side of a person. I cannot make decisions for you and when I am seeking an answer I truly do seek the Lord, I fast and I pray and I have known Him to ALWAYS be faithful. He will speak to your heart if you let Him. Do not harden your heart so as to not be able to hear Him. In times of doubt all I can say by experience in my life is to TRUST, TRUST, TRUST. Oh, one more thing, laugh for laughter is good for you.
I should add one more important thought at this point, do trust your children if they should come to you and tell you that that person was inappropriate with them at all. That is your responsibility to thoroughly check into that as their parent, the guardian of their life and most importantly, the guardian of their heart. Be a blessing to your children this very day. Isn't that what it boils down to? To be a blessing to your children with your love, comfort and protection so when they go to sleep at night they can have that freedom to rest and wake up rested in the morning.

Part Two Of What I Wrote Yesterday

Yesterday, when I wrote there was a portion of what I wrote that was not published. I felt that yesterday I was to write upbeat and leave it at that. I visited with my friend in the nursing home yesterday before I published and I had her read the full version that I printed off for her to read. She has this way about her that if she reads something or you are telling her something and she senses the presence of God she lets you know. That happened yesterday when she read the full version of what I wrote. Today I will publish the portion that was left out yesterday. I implore you to not let your head hit your pillow tonight before examining your heart and make sure you are right with God.
I also did not mention yesterday that when I woke up yesterday I prayed for quite a while before I read John 3: 16-21:
"God loved the world this way: He gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him will not die but will have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but to save the world. Those who believe in him won't be condemned. But those who don't believe are already condemned because they don't believe in God's only Son. This is why people are condemned: The light came into the world. Yet, people loved the dark rather than the light because their actions were evil. People who do what is wrong hate the light and don't come to the light. They don't want their actions to be exposed. But people who do what is true come to the light so that the things they do for God may be clearly seen."

If you have found yourself steeped in sin or about to plunge into sin I ask you to seek the Lord while there still is time to seek him. He wishes that none perish in hell for eternity. Think about it that is a very long time. A long time to be separated from your friends and family and most importantly, God. Sin only lasts for a fleeting moment and the consequences in some instances can last a lifetime. The thing about sin is that the individual really has the choice to choose sin or walk away from sin and the temptation waiting to lure you into the final demise. If you have sinned I serve a God that is forgiving and loves so ask Him for forgiveness. If you ask Him He will also present to you a way out of temptation. Do not let moments of pleasure cause you to lose your salvation with Jesus. He came to save the lost and heal the hearts of the broken hearted. Trust Him and let Him lead you and then rest in that trust that He will continue to lead you as long as you allow Him to.

Did You See The Rainbow In The Sky This Morning? No Rain At All Just A Rainbow In The Sky

It was brisk outside this morning as I walked. When you walk and open your mouth and breathe out and you get steam on your glasses that is a good indicator that it is a brisk temperature outside. More brisk than we are use to with the warm weather we have experienced. I was walking and stopped to speak with a guy that lives by me. The direction I was standing in caused me to see the rainbow. I mentioned it to him and he said that it was his Mom. I asked him what he meant by that and he shared that whenever he sees a rainbow he knows she is looking on him. We commented on how unusual it was to see the mistiness around the sun too, as the light streamed forth from the clouds. It was beautiful. This man is an excellent baker, did you know that there are men that like to bake? Women are not the only one's that have a corner on the market when it comes to this. He let me sample some of his bakery last weekend. Think of this, a lemon bar cheesecake and a pineapple cake with pineapple filling and butter cream frosting on the sides with coconut. They were too rich for me to consume them both so I tasted each one and then brought them to my mom to try. Presentation to me is just as important as the taste. He delivered it to me on a beautiful plate and even took the time to dust it with powdered sugar. I think his cheesecake surpassed my cheesecakes. Did you know that men like to garden too, not just flimsy gardens but gardens that are beautiful? I encouraged him and told him he will have a successful day today with selling his bakery. When I started my walk today I picked two of my pink roses and had them with me as I walked. After I finished talking with him I continued to walk. An older woman was starting to walk. As she was adjusting her headset I asked her if she would like the roses I picked this morning, she accepted them.
Well, I would say that the alfalfa had a really good season in the field. How blessed to have three harvests in one season from one field. They just harvested the third crop yesterday. God is good, He truly is good. I am amazed at the rainbow that I saw today. I did not know that a rainbow can appear in the sky from mistiness and not rain. I guess that would make sense when you think about it for mist really is moisture right? I was thankful for the mist for it allowed me to enjoy the rainbow the entire walk today. Thank you Lord.
Today I read John 3:16-21, "God loved the world this way: He gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him will not die but will have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but to save the world. Those who believe in him won't be condemned. But those who don't believe are already condemned because they don't believe in God's only Son. This is why people are condemned: The light came into the world. Yet, people loved the dark rather than the light because their actions were evil. People who do what is wrong hate the light and don't come to the light. They don't want their actions to be exposed. But people who do what is true come to the light so that the things they do for God may be clearly seen."

Young children that are wild or rebel a lot will not benefit if the parent sees it through covered glasses. Distorted vision can be adjusted by removing the covered glasses and seeing the truth presented before you. A child that rebels really is reaching out in a different way for the love of the parent. It is important to take a good, hard look and see that at times a child just may need to come before the needs of the adult parent. We are given children as a gift not some conquest or prize won right? Don't let your child/children become a trophy sitting on a mantle let them be the love of your life. Nurture them with the love that has been placed inside of you for that purpose. They will be glad that you did. One day you will look back upon these times and smile. You will then see that your taking time to nurture them in a big way now contributed to them becoming an incredible young lady or young man. Remember the giver of good gifts, our Father in Heaven, is the one that gave that beautiful miracle to you as he/she was placed in your arms when they were born. Treasure those gifts. Hug your children and never tire of telling them how much you love them and what a true treasure they are to you. A treasure is no good hidden in a trunk somewhere. If it is a piece of crystal why would you hide it when it can be placed in the perfect spot for all to see it's beauty and splendor? When it is not hidden, the right ray of light can stream through it and all the most beautiful facets can be captured by that stream of light. Look at it like this, the facets are all the gifts/talents inside your child. When they are nurtured by your love they are then able to be brought forth.

Sea horse piece of crystal with light streaming through it inside.

Same piece of crystal, pose taken outside on a cloudy day. Which one will you choose?

Look What I Just Created I Trust You Will Enjoy It, I Love It. So Much Creativity For Us To Tap Into.

Customize your own free photo slideshow

On Saturday I Was Almost In A Bad Accident Around 3:30 PM

I was up very early today. I was going to pray and for almost two hours I would just become distracted. Thoughts would just flood my mind and keep me from praying. It was around 4AM when I was able to then pray and keep focused on prayer. As I was about to start my walk this morning I noticed that the twins were up and sitting at the window with their mom. I went over and told them Good Morning and asked them if they had a good sleep last night. They get these big smiles on their faces. Don't you just love it when little ones are not talking yet but we, as adults, still carry on a conversation as though they understand what you are saying? That is what I do with them as I did with my own children too. I told them that they had to eat their breky (short for breakfast) all gone. While we were talking there was a wasp by the screen. I told their mother about the wasp catcher I have and how there were a lot of wasps in it already. I went over to my patio to get it to show her and the boys too. She commented that it really is full . Have you ever seen a wasp catcher? Mine is made out of glass and it is formed into the shape of a beehive. There is an opening at the bottom and one at the top of the container. The top opening is stopped with a cork screw stopper. You fill it with pop and apparently the wasps are attracted to the sweetness of the pop and crawl into the opening on the bottom. Once in, all they do is keep flying around and they seem to gather at the top opening that has the cork screw stopper in it. Obviously they are not aware that all they have to do is go to the opening on the bottom and crawl out of it there and they they would be set free. To you and I it is obvious what needs to be done to get that freedom right. Apparently they do no have this knowledge to save themselves.
How many people do you know that are in situations in which they may feel trapped? They may be lured into something by sweetness and once they are lured in they become confused and discombobulated and find themselves trapped in that situation. The answer or way out is obvious to others around them but they just cannot see it them self because they seem to be temporarily blinded by the facts. Past history or hurt seems to be dulled or  they are overcome by the fact that they are longing for something much more in life than being alone. So, the memories of past hurt or deception are replaced or softened by the lure that trapped them. Pray for these people because they are not able to see once they are in the situation. Liken it to the wasps, they know how to get into the container so you would think it is obvious to them how to get out the same way they got in. Not so, for all they keep doing is flying around and trying to get out where there is no opportunity to allow this.
In scripture this morning I was led to Isaiah 2: 10-11: "Go in among the rocks and hide underground because of the Lord's terrifying presence and the honor of his majesty. The eyes of arrogant people will be humbled. High and mighty people will be brought down. On that day the Lord alone will be honored."
High and mighty people will be brought down. Visualize that through the example of the wasp catcher. They keep trying to rise up and out once in the catcher. They work themselves up and probably run themselves down by all the effort exerted to get out and they eventually die and join the others sitting in the pop at the bottom of the container. If you find yourself is a situation like that do not settle for anything less than what God has for you and your life. Why would you settle for a broken down or torn up chair busted in the road when it falls off of a moving truck because it was not secured down and it breaks once it hits the pavement while moving fast on a highway, when you are called to sit with those in high places in the comfort of a plush chair created with high quality materials? The example of the chair comes forth from the experience on Saturday. It was around 3:30 PM and I was on the highway along with a red truck piled high with furniture. It also looked like it had piled on items they were moving. It was to the left of me on the highway and some of the items fell right onto the road in the path of my lane of traffic. I tried to dodge the pipe/pole and black garbage bag that was full as it hit the road. Right before my very eyes a table flew off the truck and hit the highway road and busted up a portion of it. I had no choice at that point but to trust God and drive right through the table and bust it up even more. I do not remember if it was a leg or the flat portion that was left of the table that I hit. Reality hit me after the fact and I pulled off of the highway and checked out my car to see if it was OK, it was. It shook me a bit because I was in a position in which I was able to see this piece of furniture along with other items flying off the truck and now I am having to decide which do I miss hitting and just go for it. Ironically, as I got back on the highway there was that truck I passed it this time. I thanked God for His protection and His grace and the angels that saved me from an almost destructive situation. I then travel a bit more and I get off the highway and there must have been an accident and it looked not good. I saw a woman walk from the pretty banged up SUV with her arms around the young girl and a little older girl. As I was waiting to turn I rolled down my window to see if they needed help or for me to call someone I was told no. Again, I find myself driving over debris but this time it was debris from their accident. Again I thanked the Lord for allowing to miss this accident entirely. You see, that was the day my first born child turned 25 years old. We texted each other back and forth but I did not get to speak with her until that evening.

I told you she was a beautiful baby. This was taken 2 months after she was born on her christening day.

Our christening days, there is no denying that mother and daughter look alike what do you think? One exception, she had more hair than I did.

Christening day, she is actually sitting in a rocking chair bought for the doll sitting with her.

I remember the day she was born. She was 2.5 weeks overdue so they brought me into the hospital to induce my labor, I believe it was the day after Labor Day if I am not mistaken. Pitocin really is not that bad as they told us it would be when we took the childbirth classes. I would have distance in time between each labor pain but the actual contraction lasted about 5 minutes in length. The only thing the pitocin did was break my water and then from that point we only had so much time to go into labor and if nothing happened I was to have a c-section. After nothing throughout the night the next morning it was scheduled. She was born a little after 12:30 PM. She was beautiful and still is beautiful now. Since she was overdue by almost three weeks she was born just perfect and filled out nicely. She weighed in at 10 pounds 3 1/2 ounces and she was a good length also I just do not remember it now. She had so much dark hair on her head that it looked like she was born with a shag hair style and it was only a matter of a few short weeks in which she got her first haircut.

She was the model child if there is such a thing. So much so that we based our experience with her in wanting us to have another child down the road. She was advanced and was always ahead of growth charts, getting poddy trained, walking, etc. Such a joy to our lives and still is now too. She is my goal setter. She sets goals for herself and then achieves them. Such an inspiration to me, such an inspiration. She has a heart of gold and I think I have told you this before that she gives the best hugs.

I felt a bit cheated when I was not able to experience labor and delivery on my own and I talked to the Dr. and asked him questions about it. He explained it to me like this, I did nothing wrong it is just the way my body was created and that I do not naturally go into labor myself. He told me that if I would have been pregnant in another era before c-sections, I and my baby would most likely have died because I do not naturally go into labor like most women do. When my son was born we had a game plan. The Dr. gave me up until a certain time for me to go into labor and if that day passed then I had to come in for a c-section and that is just what happened. I do not question why it was like this I am just thankful that there was a way for me to deliver my babies. I will share this with you the second delivery was much easier than the first one. I was exhausted after the pitocin and ready for the delivery. With the second one I was rested and all I had to do was arrive at the hospital and get prepared for surgery. They really did monitor my daughter prior to the delivery, I had to rest and count the number of times I felt her move inside of me. Just before the surgery they were conducting some sort of study and they monitored her just before the c-section. Those are the type of things to expect when you deliver at a teaching hospital. We chose University Hospitals just in case something would arise during delivery and Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital was right there. Thank God we did not need it for either delivery. I remember this because she was perfectly filled out when born she did not look scrawny and she happened to be placed next to a baby half her size in the nursery and she was just beautiful next to that littler baby.

Back to my walk now. As I was walking I noticed the barn chaser birds doing what they are created to do, catch the insects. Some may look at them and see them through eyes that just see them doing their work. Others may see them through their eyes as moving in a creative movement. Almost as if they were dancing and putting on a performance for you to enjoy. That is how I see them. As I was admiring them and watching where I was walking at the same time I noticed one of the light colored woollybears walking on the road. I had a container with me and I scooped it up to be able to show to the woollybear predictor person. A few short feet further ahead and sure enough there was another one of these light woollybears. I now have two example to show. Do you think this means we could be in store for a mild winter? I do not know the answer to that one.
One final concluding thought. Never let people that surround you make you feel inferior, they should be a lifter of your head. When you are down they should lift you up. Do not let life keep you down so low that you seem like you cannot get back up. Look up for your redemption draws near. If you should have no one around you that lifts your spirit when it is low then go to the creator that created you and He will be the lifter of your soul. Enjoy this day.

Woollybears and Wasp Catcher

Seek God With Your Whole Heart, Then See What He Reveals To You About Your Destiny

I was watering my flowers this morning and I saw something fluttering out of the corner of my eye. Naturally, I turned in that direction and I saw a beautiful hummingbird fluttering its wings like it so gracefully created to do. There was no feeder in the garden for it to nourish on it just fluttered for a few brief seconds above my lavender. Earlier this day as I walked Holy Spirit showed me something. Did you ever notice that you get a piece of the puzzle of your life here and there? It does not come in one beautiful painting so to speak does it? At times He will reveal the big picture to you as an encouragement to you or to give you something to hang onto while you are getting closer to attaining it. I have found that when you give up your total will to God for your life He then starts to move on your behalf.  He is looking for willing hearts (vessels) that He can pour His love into. Once it is inside of you then your job is to share it with those that need your tender words of encouragement or kindness shown to them.

I was at a church recently in which they have a gift for creating canvas paintings. As I walked the hall to the sanctuary I passed by the artwork that is displayed on the walls. I took a few pictures (I asked first before taking the pictures.) I was drawn to this particular painting by the light that pours forth from the vessel. To me this represents the love of God that He pours into your hearts if you allow Him to. You have a choice that you make if you will allow or disallow this. As I mentioned a heart and also a vessel I did a little editing of this picture for the purpose of this writing. I used the eraser feature to remove a portion of the painting. It was in the form of a heart. A heart that is empty and does not allow the love of God to fill its cavity will cause the painting to look distorted. I will show you first the edited painting with the section missing. It causes the painting to appear without the fullness it was intended for the observer to see. The second painting will show you the fullness without being edited. When you see the second painting it shows you the fullness of the love of God in your life if you allow Him to reflect His image in your life. The heart speaks so much to a person not always with empty words or promises. No, it speaks through the love and compassion you show to others. Words are great and may sound good on paper or in an email but they are no more than words written. They come to life when you choose to make them more than mere words when you place action behind those words. An example, if you wrote a text message to your child that you were going to do something for them and you send it off to them that is great. What about the receiver of those very words  in which you may have promised to do something for them or with them? If you do not follow through they become empty words with lifeless promise attached to them. Flip side. You send that very same text message to your child and you follow through with what you said you were going to do, you just created life to the words. They are no longer simply mere words they are words that were brought to life. Does that make sense? Choose life today. I cannot force you to give your whole heart to God all I can do is encourage you to do that.

Edited Painting

Unedited painting, so much more beautiful to look at isn't it?