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Sharing experience and strength offers hope to those who seek wisdom. |
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** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** THE GIFT OF EXPERIENCE: HOPE PREVAILS Hope is the reasonable expectation that something good is going to happen. Without hope, our lives seem desolate and empty. Hope has enabled me to overcome extraordinary amounts of adversity. A good friend pointed out that my circumstances were given to me because I am here to help others. If you are reading this then you should know my faith is strong, and it has only been through the grace of God that these experiences have not overwhelmed me. Welcome.
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** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Weakness is in every person, whether we want to admit it or not. We do not live perfectly, we do not love perfectly, and we do not do our jobs perfectly. Weakness is part of human nature, and it's okay to admit that to ourselves and others. I remember when I was in the fourth grade. I had a straight A average. My teacher had a horse farm, and every student who maintained an A average was going to go on a field trip there. I was excited about it because my folks really didn't let me out of their sight much. One day, another student and I went to the facilities. Even though I didn't think it was right, she influenced me to write on the bathroom wall. Then, she proceeded to tell on me for it, thus making me miss out on the trip, even though I had received my blue ribbon each week. I think that was the first time I realized I had weaknesses. Since then, there have been many other things in my life that could be considered frailties. Fears, for example, or people-pleasing. However, today, I don't focus on what my imperfections are; rather, I try to hone in on my assets. No one can be excellent at everything. Why expend all our energies trying to perfect a skill at which we are just not suited? That's what irks me about some parents who force their children into activities that do not interest them. Hone the skills we DO have, and we will be happy. Why? Because those skills are God-given talents. I am weak in my own strength, but in Jesus I am made strong. When we lean on, and rely in Him, all things are possible. "All things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose." -Romans 8:28 So, if we love God, and live for Him in our everyday lives, sharpening the skills he has given us, we will be glorifying Him. If we focus on strengths, rather than weaknesses, we will become adept at what we were meant to do in this lifetime, and we'll be happy doing it. ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** |
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** "The natural flights of the human mind are not from pleasure to pleasure, but from hope to hope." -Samuel Johnson ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** I'm hoping one day soon to meet the person who will help me to understand why my previous relationships have failed. It will be because destiny calls forth angels, his and mine, and we will meet in the middle. Middle ground is so important, too. I don't want to be above or beneath. I don't want to be ahead or behind. I want an equal meeting of the senses, of the hopes, of the fascinations, and of dreams large and small that will complement one another just as a beautiful voice complements music. Someone once told me, "Dream big, make your order tall, for what you don't ask you won't get at all." In the meantime, (and always) I still have TBN. ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** |
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Valentine's Day is only a month away and I find myself again this year without a soul mate. I have had my barriers up for a long time. I had been so trusting and open in my meaningful relationships because I truly wanted honest love. Unfortunately, my picker is bad. Or perhaps it was just me. Whatever the case, I have surrendered to the free love offered by my Savior. I've grown closer to Him than anyone I've ever dated, including my husband, and I believe that is a good thing. Now I'm ready to take the grace and love He has extended to me and let it flow to others. Here, I will ask for your prayers, that my eyes be opened to my character defects so I might correct them, and that a compatible person with whom I can fall in love will enter my life. I think five years alone is ample time to get to know oneself without a mate. I'm ready to surrender to love. Thanks in advance for your prayers. ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** |
| Does any among you deal with some type of fear? I recently tried a medication for pain that caused me to have extreme fear of everything, which is completely unlike me. There are all sorts of phobias, from Metus (the fear of law) to Triskaidekaphobia (the fear of the number 13). Fear can be paralyzing. Some people are afraid they will do something the wrong way and the fear of reprimand overwhelms them to the point of anxiety paralysis. The good news is "The Lord is my light and my salvation-so why should I be afraid? The Lord protects me from danger-so why should I tremble?" -Psalm 27:1 When adversity strikes, we should remember that God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. -Psalm 46:1 I received a threat yesterday after I told someone I no longer wanted to be associated with them. That person engages in activities which are not my style. So I told her I would pray for her. No weapon formed against me will prosper. Yes, my hope remains intact. "I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me, freeing me from all my fears." I do not have monophobia, which is a good thing. I am perfectly happy being alone and discovering ME for the time being. You can't have fear AND faith. Its an oxymoron. |
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** My hope has not failed me. I've held on to it for dear life this entire year. I have endured trial after trial, and my faith and hope have remained intact. Don't get me wrong, I HAVE broken down in tears a couple of times because of the pressure. But I have not allowed my pity party, party of one, to last more than a few moments. When I came against adversity, I recited the promises of God, out loud, over and again until I felt stronger and was able to move on to the next thing. And there have been many, many things, from the teenagers in my building turning off my power 14 times to the car breaking down 6 times, to the people in my life betraying me, to the medication mix-ups, to the sheer fact that I am without a home right now until the first of the month, and even more. But I still have hope. As my intro to this blog states, HOPE is the reasonable expectation that something good is going to happen. I was approved for the apartment I wanted. There are two weeks before I can move in, but it is a nice community and I am HOPEFUL that I will be more comfortable there than at my last place. God said He would never leave nor forsake me, as long as I have faith. And I do have faith. I will not let Satan win. ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** |
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Remember that Jim Carrey movie called "Yes Man?" In it, his character is a boring, lethargic man who says "no" to every invitation and spends the majority of his time alone until a friend convinces him to attend a conference where the only answer that is acceptable is "yes." He begins to say yes to everything, then trouble ensues. A hilarious movie with a good moral. Let's talk about saying "yes" to everything. I am guilty as charged. In my quest to be liked by others, to be accepted if you will, I am in the habit of saying "yes" to every request for my help, no matter that I don't have the time or energy to get things done for myself. My dishes pile up and maintenance gives me a sour look when they come by to fix something and meanwhile I think I'm being a good servant. But that is not the way I should be. I have just recently (two days ago, in fact) realized that a particular person has been taking advantage of me for years and has never even once done anything for me. I needed her help with something (that was within her means to do) and she refused to help me. Then she called the next day to ask for my help again. I said I would, hung up the phone, then got to thinking about it. NO. "No is what I mean, and no is what I am going to say," I said to myself. It was difficult to say, because I am not used to it, but I imagine it will become easier when I have more time and energy to say "yes" to things that will benefit myself, my health and my home. ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** |
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** "This above all: to thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou 'canst not then be false to any man." -William Shakespeare I've found that being true to myself has really simplified my life. When I'm still, and just think for a moment, and listen to myself - to what I need and want - and then proceed to do what my instincts tell me to and nothing more, I find that there is no confusion in my life. People can be demanding, but I make my own schedule and if it's too stringent I can change it. If every night I am so tired from overextending myself to others that I can't get my own house cleaned, I need to change my schedule, to simplify my life, to trust my instincts and be true to me. Everyone has their own set of truths and everyone must find their own. My journey of self-exploration will not necessarily help you, and yours will not help me. We can share what might happen as a result of certain actions, but oft times we must step out in faith to see whether that is the course we should take. Sometimes we fall flat on our faces. Sometimes failure is the best thing for us. Sometimes confusion and frustration will help us to become stronger people. I battled for a long time before finding the truths within me today. It was not easy, for I have always been subserviant, first to an authoritarian father figure and then to a domineering military husband. (Of course, I was a rebel on the inside.  ) George Santayana wrote that truth is "A jewel which should not be painted over; but, it may be set to advantage and shown in a good light." Every experience, whether it be a success or a failure, has a truth attached to it, just waiting to be discovered. Go out and make a breakthrough and find the truths that will honor who you are at present, and who want to become! ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** |
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Sometimes we just have to ask ourselves: Do I want to be right or do I want to be happy? Some of us are familiar with those age-old arguments where we can predict the entire conversation, or shouting match as the case might be. But really, when you think about it, what is the point of continuing on in those types of arguments? We already know the outcome, be it slamming doors, tears or ignoring the other person. Why bother with those strained emotions when we can go merrily about our way? Is it more important to be right or to be happy? I mean honestly, perhaps God is not dealing with the other person on that particular issue yet. We have been told time and again that we cannot change another person, so why bother expending energy trying? What we can do is behave ourselves. We can be an example to the other person. We can live by the Golden Rule. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." The key here is acceptance, and more specifically accepting imperfection. No one has the perfect amount of strength in every area of their life. We must give others leeway, give them space to make mistakes without judging and criticizing everything they do that does not meet our high standards. Putting high expectations on others is unfair. Our partner IS good enough, or we wouldn't be with them to begin with. They may make mistakes, and they may need improvement, but they are good enough. So which is more important, being right in every conversation you have-even if it means making you and/or someone else miserable, or being happy and giving in a little? I know, for me, I want to just be happy. ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** |
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** I like to take God at His word. I heard some things recently said about me that were not kind. It was a sort of breaking point for me. Well, the first of two equally distressing breaking points. A breaking point plateau, if you will. I made a decision to study the Word a little more deeply. Since I have been doing that, for the past two months, I have learned a lot about myself, about how I should be, and about spiritual warfare. A lot of bad things have been happening. Well, after those things were said, (very mean-spirited, negative statements about me), I began to cry. Those people don't know me. They don't know what I do when I leave this apartment, which is usually help someone. They have no idea what kind of person I am, or who I am becoming. And they also do not know where I've been. They do not know my story. I've gone from homeless to home, car-less to car, son-less to son, Godless to God, emotionless to love. And I could go on. But those women did not know that about me. They don't know my growth. So I began to state, out loud, the promises of God found in the Bible. "I am MORE than a CONQUEROR. I have the Holy Spirit living on the inside of me. I am the head and not the tail. I focus on what's above and not beneath," and etc.. And it gave me STRENGTH. No longer did I feel like crying. No longer did my stomach feel knotty. It works... Prayer works. ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** |
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** I saw a teaching recently on obedience. It was a biblical teaching (and I may refer God and The Bible and these teachings often, so...sorry if that scares you, but that is who I am.) I am learning to come up higher, to be a better person, to love those who don't love me. The nurse at my doc's office (her name is Candace) does not like me for some reason or another. I am always pleasant when I go, so I don't know what it is about me she does not like. Whatever the case, she gets at least one of my prescriptions wrong on every visit, on purpose I believe. I started getting really frustrated, all the while the pharmacy peeps were tired of me calling and coming by to see if she called in the right meds. One day this month, as I sat in the pharmacy parking lot (again), I heard God's voice say to me: "You asked me this morning who you could bless today. Bless Candace." Um, what? NOOOOOO! I literally shook my head at God. "That is not what I had in mind when I asked, God," I said aloud. I started out of the parking lot and then stopped and thought about it for a minute. Here I am trying to grow up in God, and when He tries to bring me up higher, I tell Him "no"? Well, that won't do at all. There was a Publix across the street, which is a popular grocery store chain in the south, so I drove over and went inside to the flower department. I chose a small arrangement in a bowl for her. It was nothing spectacular, but I felt like I was doing what He told me to do. I did fill out a card, though in hindsight, I think I should not have signed my name to it. I wrote: Candace, God Bless You. And signed it with my full name. I checked out and drove the arrangement down to the city where their office lies. I left it at the front desk. My next appointment is this Friday. ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** |
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