"Happy New Years" to the old & new 2014 & 2015

As the old year exits and the new one arrives, l recall all the lovely memories I have made. Of course there are some moments that were not as lovely,  but they carved a stronger more appreciative "ME". I celebrate life! Eager to make changes,  prosper, share and make new memories. May you and your family find 2015 to be an exciting journey.

Make Today Count

My mornings were doing things that filled my life and gave me a purpose until one day I realized my days are simply a routine. I had to change things in order to continue my positive outlook, maintain a  motivating attitude mind set and feel good about the me I am. I noticed my "today" wasn't much different that my "yesterday"? If I could change just one thing each day that is not in the order of my routine, perhaps my accomplishments would merit an imaginary  "high five" or a "pat-on-the-back".....something that let's me know I am worth it; not that I think I am not worthy,  just needing a little nudge. So, I took a break from a task I do every morning, or have been for a little over a year.  Hmmmmm.......I recall that at the time I began this task I let go of another activity I had thoroughly enjoyed. With this new insight and thought processing it is possible to do both activities! It is when I do them for enjoyment and not because they are morning/daily rituals that will bring a refreshed attitude. Just one thing changed daily makes each day a new day. All it took for me was a simple inventory of my day. I am worth the down-time I needed to make fun-time "my-time".

We Hold The Key

I walked into the lounge, saw the many new faces, loved the atmosphere, and the decor was
breathtakingly beautiful. Ladies in white, yellow and pink sat on the loungers, sipping their drink and then a door opens and a name is echoed and she stands to exit.
No, I am not in a nice bar, restaurant, nor a lovely home. I am in the new office building for Breast Cancer in our city. All the ladies have their heads down reading magazines, looking around at others, drinking lemonade and never speaking. Let me break the silence! "Hey, ladies isn't the silence about to drive you bonkers? Look at this lovely place we are in! We should be having a party, we are all dressed in like appareal, music is playing. We're good to go." Yeah you're right, it was too much energy for some of these ladies.  One little lady turned to see where the voice was coming from and with her stern face looking right at me she returned to put her head down and back into the magazine. However, some were engaging in the conversation but that soon dwindled and they too were back to looking into the magazine. What is it about time and space that we cannot connect? Why must we keep our heads down? Why do we shut down this fun and exciting energy? Why do we refuse to smile? We are in a room about to be scanned for breast cancer and instead of being hopeful we are a bunch of gloomy ladies. Wait, my bad. Some of us are. There were a few who actually ran with the "party" concept. We have the key to open up life, laughter, love, happiness and enjoyment. It is inside of all of us. Be willing to step outside your comfort zone. Be willing to dare. I unashamedly will speak and I love my life!

Authentic Truth

Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest,  Tumblr,  Linkedin, and other awesome tools are innovative ways to communicate. Do we need to dress up a situation to make it look appealing? Do we exaggerate the truth to please or draw an audience? Do we use these means to escape from loneliness or sadness? Do we dare to step outside this "virtual world" of new innovation for fear of rejection? Today I choose to be a part of a friendship and bonding to all. Today I choose to know you outside of these perimeter. Today I invite life, truth and authenticity into my world. Today I choose to be unashamedly honest and loving myself  for the simplicity of my life, not complicating but invigorating. Today I chose to be me, not someone others may like, but the me I love! #behonest

Lesson Learned

I sat my cell phone in the side console of the car as I'm driving down the road with my husband in the passenger seat.  I place my purse in the floorboard of the back seat. We're off and driving somewhere,  but I don't know where.  For some strange reason I must pull into this driveway, into this garage and duck. Wait! My husband is no longer with me. I must run into this house for some reason. I do. Shortly I return to get in my car and it is gone!!!!! My purse, my phone, my money, my identification and no way to call for help. I now realize I have no clue where I am, what city much less what state I am in. I can't even call the police to report my stolen vehicle.  I'm getting hungry. I am tired but no place to sleep. I want my family but where am I??? I wake up!!!! It was a dream. Lesson learned from a dream & my new-found philosophy for living:   "Do not put your trust in the things of this world, but guard all those things given to you as valuable."
Remember that at times God teaches us  through  dreams and visions.
"Tell those who are rich not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which will soon be gone, but their pride and trust should be in the living God who always richly gives all we need for our enjoyment." 
~1 Timothy 6:17~

Simply A Beautiful Day

I turn over, stretch, open my eyes and realize it's another beautiful,day! I am alive!  Jump out of bed, grab the coffee, open the door to let the dogs out and grab the newspaper. It!s Sunday!!!! I have a children's class of 3rd and 4th graders to teach. I am excited!!! The subject is "Let Your Light Shine". What better subject to start their next week with as our school system begins another year?  I choose to be happy, be excited and energized. So I'm ready and off to church I go, smiling and greeting as I walk to my classroom. I am overwhelmed by the attendance. "Now Lord , you know I just got to teach in such a way that will lift their spirits, put hope in their hearts and plant a desire to learn and know more about you. Open up my mind to receive Your message and relay it as I have studied Your Word."  
The children read, asked questions, dialogued back and forth, sang songs and spoke of the kind things they did this past week and what good things they could do as they begin their new school year. Now to a teacher you can't feel more proud than when they show that kindness right before you. Kids helping others when the reading was a little trying, others holding the page while the other had to point with their finger and lean in close to see the words and then there is the kid who is confident enough in themselves to let down their barriers to be that friend to one who seems to be shy and withdrawn making them feel wanted.
So did I tell you what the subject was?  Right! I did, "Let Your Light Shine" and they did!!!!!

Glorious Unfolding

I think it is so amazing how we sing praise songs, inspire, speak of love, smile, share , help others, encourage one another and lift up HIS name in worship. However, I am most amazed above all things that Father God loved man so much the he touched MAN's seed of love and placed it in a body, that of Mary, to grow the flesh and bones around the Holy Spirit that would become the MAN who was all GOD. Our example of how to live a life of selfless love came from that SEED to become our Savoir, Jesus. Now as we are born of the flesh as Jesus was, God had purposefully planned the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ so that through the Holy Spirit given, we now have the guidance that God gave to Jesus. Everything we need is the soul of love that never dies, lying inside each of our frames. If God saved Isreal, guess what?  I await "His Glorious Unfolding" . 

"Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name: I have called you by name: you at mine.

Isaiah 43:1

Defining Life's Beauty

How many times have I said, "Have a great day; it's a beautiful life" and thought about what I just said? There are numerous definitions of life and they all begin:

-the ability to....

-the period of....

-the experience of....

-the quality of.....

-a principle or force that....

An organismic state....

-spiritual existence....

-the period from.....

-a sentence of.....

Every single day is beautiful, but it's the life we put into the day that makes it a beautiful

life. The one and only definition for life of sure certainty is the period from conception to death.

Doing good, so why do I feel so sad?????

Well, she had been in hospital since May and her dad told my husband and he in turn told me, but I never knew why. So when she called she immediately asked if I would do her a "silly-off-the-wall favor". Of course, I say what is it? She said she has cancer and... I had to stop her and say I am so sorry, what can I do? That is when she said she had completed  her 1st chemo and her already short hair is falling out. She tried shaving it off and could not get the back. Her dad  said he couldn't use the razor so there she sat half shaved. She wanted me to do it. I agreed and my heart literally broke when she came to the door. God's sweet Grace and His Holy Presence were what kept me standing and smiling and carrying on a conversation throughout the process. I listened as she told about her diagnosis, her surgery, treatment and having to leave work and apply for assistance. Her only daughter lives in Germany. Please remember her in prayer. 
Oh, she brought over a pack of those cheap razors and had used them on the top with a few cuts. I just could not use those. I would never have finished so I proceeded to use the scissors to cut as close to the scalp as possible when I remember ordering my husband a new electric razor set. It worked out great! After she left I was cleaning up her hair and that tore at my heart. How brave she is!  I will never forget this as long as I live. I wanted to help but this was really tough.

For Today

Keep in mind that you can be whatever you desire. The means are always available. You just have to want it bad enough to find the way to your goal. Hey, perhaps you are in the midstream of your life and want a change. Goals are not just for the young but for the one who desires. It is the belief in self that achieves much. Every single morning wake up and refresh your mind and spirit. Grab that coffee or tea and find time to relax the mind and then focus. See your goal, plan it and achieve it!

"Goals give you more than a reason to get up in the morning; they are an incentive to keep you going all day. Goals tend to tap the deeper resources and draw the best out of life

— Harvey Mackay

You Did It to ME

He lay there on the sidewalk, a broken down piece of cardboard as his mattress, his hands tucked under his head as a pillow, his clothes had seen many days of wearing and the people just kept right on passing by. He was like that parking meter, that trash bin, that stop sign, that parked car, that person you bump in passing. He was an object. For whatever reason, he had become a man in his own prison. He stopped reaching out. We stopped reaching in. When did we loose sight of that person, that life, that soul?...his and ours.
-kdh-

“Then those ‘sheep’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’
Matthew 25:37-40

Where Did The Time Go?

Do you ever feel like you just need to step away, grab your thoughts and rest for a spell? You are not alone. With the lovely Spring weather here in Southern Indiana I've been captured by the beauty of nature as migrating birds begin to visit my back yard,  the fragrance of the flowers add a sweet aroma to the outdoors, trees burst into full bloom and time keeps ticking away.  Yep, there's nothing we can do to stop time or slow it down. So let's step away, grab a thought and rest a bit, but get up, get moving and enjoy this great big beautiful world. Today belongs to you. This very moment belongs to you. Tomorrow? Well, we hope for another one, but it's not a given. However, if it is, do not regret tomorrow what you did not do today. You could look back in wonder and ask yourself, "Where did the time go? Be all you can be for as long as you can be. Be happy!!

Disguised Beauty Entices

Matthew 26:41

“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

We have all been enticed by something or someone. Perhaps it was to do good, but most often it is to do what is not good, what is not appropriate, what is not morale. We live by standards that we set for ourselves. However, the standard of life we should emulate is that of Christ, the one and only Perfect Man.

I recall a statement of such in a sermon I'd heard. 

"Temptation is any enticement to think, say, or do something contrary to God's holy will. Our pride can provide the very opening needed for the sharp thrust of a satanic dart. So can the love of money, a quick temper, a critical tongue or chronic impatience."

Adam and Eve took the bite of the apple that changed what God had designed for us; a perfect garden, a paradise. The servant made the beauty of the apple appealing using words to lure and entice them to do wrong, and they ate. Just like the image here of a coconut covered in the shell of an apple, it looks very attractive and inviting. 

Live each day to do His Will. Be strong and courageous and resist the devil. he will flee from you if God is your center point.

Sometimes I drop my spoon

"I'm going out for a few hours, so would you call or come by to see how mothers is doing?" asked my brother-in-law. "Seems she almost fell." 

Mother is a spunky 92 years, but slightly frail, so I called her. She wears hearing aids, but did not have them in. The conversation became a little trying for me. She and I had a discussion once about what to do when her health got where she could not care for herself. Today I posed the question, "Are you at that place where we need to discuss Nursing Homes?" Of course she said no. Why would I think she would volunteer a "Yes"? No one wants to leave home and go to a place to be cared for, loose a bit of your independence and moreover loose your will to live or even the fight to live.

So today Mother is at home enjoying her big screened television, her recliner and short walks down the hallway to the kitchen. Grand children and great grandchildren still visit, there are occasional family dinners, a visit to the beauty salon and sometimes there is a dinner date with friends or family.

Let us reach deep inside our soul and use the kindness that bridges between the youth and the old binding hearts. 

If you are young, reach out to the older generation. 

If you are the older generation, call out to the younger generation. 

Bridging and binding is the way.

In The Midst Of The Storm

Strolling through the neighborhood today I felt a peace that only comes when you are in the presence of the Savior. I felt the April winds brush my face as they parted the branches on the trees. I felt the twirling, fuzzy dandelions tickle my nose. I saw the tiny buds on the Dogwood trees appearing in anticipation of a new Spring as the sun burst through the clouds and smiled.  In the distance I could hear the birds chirping. I saw and heard all this and thought to myself, "If HE is the Creator of all this beauty (and HE is) then through all my trials, my heartaches and my moments of feeling hopelessly helpless then whom shall I fear. My God made all this beauty. It was then that I just spoke aloud, "Thank You, Jesus. I love You!" He is absolutely and totally in control of all. I will ride the waves of the storm for In the Midst of the Storm He Reigns.                                                                                                                        

You are never alone

Can We Be Defined By Two Words?

Think!
Name two of your most used descriptive words when defining something you are passionate about.
I will wait while you ponder as my discussion subject is focused on those two words.

Ok...time is up. What two words did you choose?
After reading and re-reading my few weeks' writings as an official blogger, I noticed "BEAUTY" and "LOVE" used again and again.
Daily as we grow, mature and make a way in this world for ourselves, we are making little impressions in our soul from our moment-to-moment activities with man and nature. Our eyes take the image and stores it in our hearts, our souls. The image can be retrieved from our memory where we see the magnitude of words put into action. However, unlike a computer attached to a printer producing a print, our memories reproduce the image with words.
These two words tell a lot about who we are, where we have been, where we choose to go, what we want to see in others and what others see in us.
My image below is a simple photo taken in Daytona, but it represents for me all of the things in my years of living. It is BEAUTY of a bloom that began as a bulb in the ground. It is the LOVE that nurtured the plant to grow big, strong and fruitful.  I brought a bulb from the ground in Florida, but because the soil and climate in Indiana is not suitable for this plant, I must keep it indoors in the winter and outdoors in the summer. Hence it is not truly rooted in firm foundation.  It grows in a pot.
The key here is two-fold. Choose your words to represent you as HE has already chosen you, just plant yourself in soil that will produce a soul that speaks with HIS IIMAGE of light.

 Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.

Colossians 2:6-7

Eyes Front

"Eyes front!" is a military expression. When passing a reviewing stand a body of troops are ordered to look at the dignitary on the stand. The order "Eyes right!" would be given. This involves turning the head slightly to the right and looking out of the sides of ones eyes. Then when the column passed the stand the counter-order "Eyes front!" would be given, at which time the marchers all face the front and continue the march.
Today I was reminded that keeping my eyes on the present, the here and now, will spur me forward. It is the looking back at what was and hoping for those same results that can take my eyes off what is in front of me, what can make a change in me today.
I just started day 3 with my Personal Trainer and I was pumped. My mind was in a good place. I was looking back at my army years when I was strong and lean, looking back at the days when I taught Physical Education and my muscles were toned and defined and even as soon as the days past where I was working out at the gym with ease instead of pain. I soon realized that even though it may be good to look back at what I once accomplished and use that as my motivation, I still have to keep "Eyes front!" to achieve today's success.
I am not what I once was, but I'm still not what I can be. I want to be healthy, feel that way and do it just one day at a time. Sometimes I may sneak a peak in the rear but it's "Eyes front!" From here on out.

Just For You

Color brings the beauty to everything! God gave us rainbows in vivid colors. The day skies pour out hues of blue, white, gray, pink, a little orange and a tad of black. The night skies illuminate a brightness from a canvas of darkness, black.

The essence of beauty can be seen as close as our own front yard and as far away as the skies. Look closely how the flowers lay dormant and burst from the ground with an urgency to expel their beauty. Imagine the skies without color, bland. 

God's Masterpiece lays near and far, all around us. Let your eyes see the painting He has made just for you.

Yesterday

Yesterday. She claims all the beautiful memories we hold dear. However, she will not infringe her moments on you, but will gladly relive them as you choose to remember.
Today on Facebook a friend I graduated High School with posted a picture that took me back to Yesterday.
School days...my Senior year, a picture of all my class members grouped together on the sandy Dayton Beach shores, 1969. Those once tiny little teen-aged bodies are now aged in years with gray hair, wrinkles, sickness, and even some deaths, but those days are memories. Those memories are youthful. Those memories are yesterday.



"Like a cloud on a summer day you float through my being,
surrounding me with wisps of dreams interrupted by a glimmer of reality.
While in this state you allow me to be who and what I want to be, yet provide me with the stability that I need.................."

Reflecting
by Larry A. Huff

The Rocker

Wait!!!!

That's not my style.
That's not my chair.
That's never going to be me.

I am healthy, I walk a lot, I exercise and life is good! I am choosing  to stay positive. Yes, that is what I will continue to do.
We can do all these extras with certainty that it will make us feel better and perhaps look better, but for how long?  We are never going to beat aging. The BIBLE tells us that there is a time to be born and a time to die.  "Hey!" you say, "let's not talk death."  You are correct, I am talking about aging, but one comes after the other. That is the process; one we can gracefully enter into.

"Aging is not lost youth, but a new stage of opportunity and strength."

~Betty Friedan~

God, don’t leave me    

even when I’m old and have gray hair

Let me live to tell my children about your power    

Let me tell all of them about your mighty acts.

Psalm 71:18

Beauty Caged Inside

How is it that we let life's greatness and her beauty become caged inside of us?  It is our lack of trust in who we are that we refuse to release the freedom and escape outside those confined perimeters.  I am reminded through the words of this poem that we CAN be and we CAN feel and we CAN be all that we are meant to be.

I feel now like a flower in the Spring just before blooming.
There is an energy, a force welling up within me that makes my shoulders ache as if they were about to burst. 
I know this feeling, I am about to explode into the full bloom of my potential. I am about to fulfill my fate. I am  about to be the me I was meant to be. 
I can no longer be contained!

  REFLECTING
~Larry A. Huff~

HIGH PLACES

“…for it is only on the High Places of Love that anyone can receive the power to pour themselves down in an utter abandonment of self-giving.” 

HIND'S FEET ON HIGH PLACES.    

-Hannah Hurnard

I have been there. Woke up one morning thinking what can I do today to be utterly happy, chancing anything and anyone. That was in my youth when I was sure every day was just perfect.

In The Midst of...

There is nothing more beautiful than words. From the way we inflect to how we verbalize can fashion  the beauty of our words. To bring that beauty to life is the lesson we want to learn.

“My dear,
In the midst of hate, I found there was, within me, an invincible love.
In the midst of tears, I found there was, within me, an invincible smile.
In the midst of chaos, I found there was, within me, an invincible calm.
I realized, through it all, that…
In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer.
And that makes me happy. For it says that no matter how hard the world pushes against me, within me, there’s something stronger – something better, pushing right back.

Truly yours,
Albert Camus”

― Albert Camus, The Stranger

Where Is The Love?

Our world is all turned upside down. We are forgetting the love and focusing more on power and ownership.  
I posted this on my Facebook group, https://www.facebook.com/groups/InspiringAgapeLove and want to share.
"IF this Facebook page is to inspire and cause us to think about our Walk with God, then please read these lyrics. Broke my heart for God."

"What's wrong with the world, mama

People livin' like they ain't got no mamas

I think the whole world addicted to the drama

Only attracted to things that'll bring you trauma

Overseas, yeah, we try to stop terrorism

But we still got terrorists here livin'

In the USA, the big CIA

The Bloods and The Crips and the KKK

But if you only have love for your own race

Then you only leave space to discriminate

And to discriminate only generates hate

And when you hate then you're bound to get irate, yeah

Madness is what you demonstrate

And that's exactly how anger works and operates

Man, you gotta have love just to set it straight

Take control of your mind and meditate

Let your soul gravitate to the love, y'all, y'all

People killin', people dyin'

Children hurt and you hear them cryin'

Can you practise what you preach

And would you turn the other cheek

Father, Father, Father help us

Send some guidance from above

'Cause people got me, got me questionin'

Where is the love (Love)

Where is the love (The love)

Where is the love (The love)

Where is the love, the love, the love

It just ain't the same, old ways have changed

New days are strange, is the world insane?

If love and peace are so strong

Why are there pieces of love that don't belong?

Nations droppin' bombs

Chemical gasses fillin' lungs of little ones

With ongoin' sufferin' as the youth die young

So ask yourself is the lovin' really gone

So I could ask myself really what is goin' wrong

In this world that we livin' in people keep on givin' in

Makin' wrong decisions, only visions of them dividends

Not respectin' each other, deny thy brother

A war is goin' on but the reason's undercover.             

The truth is kept secret, it's swept under the rug

If you never know truth then you never know love

Where's the love, y'all, come on (I don't know)

Where's the truth, y'all, come on (I don't know)

Where's the love, y'all

People killin', people dyin'

Children hurt and you hear them cryin'

Can you practise what you preach

And would you turn the other cheek

Father, Father, Father help us

Send some guidance from above

'Cause people got me, got me questionin'

Where is the love (Love)

Where is the love (The love)?

Where is the love (The love)?

Where is the love (The love)?

Where is the love (The love)?

Where is the love (The love)?

Where is the love (The love)?

Where is the love, the love, the love?

I feel the weight of the world on my shoulder

As I'm gettin' older, y'all, people gets colder

Most of us only care about money makin'

Selfishness got us followin' the wrong direction

Wrong information always shown by the media

Negative images is the main criteria

Infecting the young minds faster than bacteria

Kids wanna act like what they see in the cinema

Yo', whatever happened to the values of humanity

Whatever happened to the fairness and equality

Instead of spreading love we're spreading animosity

Lack of understanding, leading us away from unity

That's the reason why sometimes I'm feelin' under

That's the reason why sometimes I'm feelin' down

There's no wonder why sometimes I'm feelin' under

Gotta keep my faith alive 'til love is found

Now ask yourself

Where is the love?

Where is the love?

Where is the love?

Where is the love?

Father, Father, Father, help us

Send some guidance from above

'Cause people got me, got me questionin'

Where is the love?

Sing with me y'all:

One world, one world (We only got)

One world, one world (That's all we got)

One world, one world

And something's wrong with it (Yeah)

Something's wrong with it (Yeah)

Something's wrong with the wo-wo-world, yeah

We only got

(One world, one world)

That's all we got

(One world, one world)"
~BLACK EYED PEAS~
"Where Is The Love?"

Music Speaks

                                                              M U S I C 

Listen as it speaks to us.

Music Moves us.

Music Unburdens us.

Music Subdues us.

Music Invigorates us.

Music Cheers us.

All the elements of nature speak to us and through music we feel them. 

Watch the trees as the wind moves through the branches. There is music in them.

Watch the sky as the clouds roll. There is music in their movement.

See the Spring showers beating on the ground. There is music in the tiny droplets. 

The ocean's tide moves inward on the beach then recedes leaving an imprint on the sand. There is music in the rush of the tide.

Yes, music speaks to us. In all God's beauty, He made music for our enjoyment. 

Listen as He plays.

Forever in His Grip,

Kayron

 

Hidden Beauty

-Revised 3/08/2014 Blog-

I find that winter months leave me yearning for sunny days. Where is the beauty of winter as she leaves her imprint on our land?  Grounds are frozen, air is chilled, trees have no leaves and flowers have no bloom. I ask again, where is the beauty of winter? As I rode the highway traveling this winter God opened my eyes to a simple image that displayed His awesomeness. One far away image of a little red barn showing off in the midst of a beautiful landscape of snow proved to me that winter does hold beauty. Actually beauty is all around us, but we do not see it until we look with our hearts what our eyes are already seeing.

When We Trust Someone

I am married to a man who loves me, puts me first in his life and financially provides for me. Still, I ponder on this beautiful quote.
I trust him; he sees my smile but does he see the sorrow behind it?
I trust him;  he knows I love him but does he see my love behind my anger?
I trust him;  he sees my silence but does he know the reason behind my silence?
When it douub, ask. I did and the answer was an astounding yes.
Finding the "someone" you fit well with is never a guarantee, but trusting in that "someone" is a start. Starting is the beginning.

I Pledge

Freedom--simply defined as the power to determine action without restraint.

Do I take it for granted? Today I was free to walk out my vacationing doors to the beach, enjoy the relaxing time under the beautiful warmth of the sun, read my book and chat with my new-found friends. Even at home in Indiana I wonder, "do I take my freedom for granted"?  Yes, I believe I do. Easy to do as I have never known anything but freedom. Active duty for 6 years in the U.S. Army and  6 years in U.S. Army Reserve deeply rooted in me honor, respect and duty, a sense of what freedom is truly about. Yet, I still take my freedom for granted. Today, right now " I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United Stares of Americe, and to the republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all." 

This I do.... Pledge!

There is no one telling me what I have to do, no one telling me who I can talk to, no one telling me what I can read and no one telling me I can not vacation. 

I am free!!!

Glorious day!!

I can't help but recall the beautiful words of a song by Casting Crowns:

"Living, He loved me
Dying He saved me
Buried, He carried my sins far away
Rising, He justified freely forever"
(And here's the part that gets me every time.)
One day He's coming
Oh glorious day, oh glorious day."

Let us look to "The One" who makes us stronger, gives us a hope, directs our goings and comings, binds our hearts, tenders our spirit, provides love like a brother, gives us peace beyond understanding, forgives our sins as far as east is from the west, will never leave us nor forsake us, was mocked by man, humbly went to the cross, shed His righteous blood to cover our sins, cried to His Father to forgive man 'cause they did not know what they were doing, who died on the cross, arose from the cold grave and lives at the "Right Hand of Father God".

Oh glorious day!

Strong vs Weak

Walking in the park I am reminded of the strong and the weak. Atop the electric pole is perched a big Osprey with his fish clutched between his claws while the smaller black bird attempts to move in for a steal.  However, as I continued to observe it was the size and power behind the Osprey that dominated, but yet the little black bird never left. Sort of like the begger in the Bible who was ragged and hungry, and covered with sores that sat at the rich man's gate for he desired to be fed the crumbs that fell from the table. 

The strong vs the weak, but the weak do prevail. 

God never let's go. He is always taking care of us.

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

Isaiah 40:29

Man's best friend?? Wait!!! Woman's best friend!

-Revised  2/22/2014 Blog-

Just a "wee humor" in the title posting. Have you noticed how dogs are becoming more domesticated? We dress them, put shoes on their feet, buy medical insurance for them, have them groomed, give them their own little spot in the house and whatever else we can think of to show our love. Yes, we do go overboard sometimes,  but aren't they the most lovable animal? Wait! Did I say animal??? I mean baby. All jokes aside, I adore my 3 babies. This little fellow is my Bobby Bichon and has a mind of his own, but loves me unconditionally. We enter the grooming salon and he begins to talk to all the ladies and they love  it. Recently I was in a department store when a lady walked by me, stopped, turned around and said,"you're Bobby's mom". Now, I haven't heard that line since my daughter's grade school days.
"Dogs come into our lives to teach us about love. They depart to teach us about loss. A new dog never replaces an old dog, it merely expands the heart. If you have loved many dogs, your heart is big."  ~author unknown~

Magnify His Beauty

Yes! I sit here in beautiful Daytona Beach Shores during the Daytona 500 and Bike Week thanking God that I can. Winters at home in Indiana can be brutal so a little winter-get-away is great. Now don't get me wrong I love my home, family, friends and my community. But I am amazed that our God provides for us 4 wonderful seasons and an escape when one is just a bit more than our bodies can handle. Some escape the cold to a warmer climate in the winter months while others escape the heat for a colder climate. People go south in the winter months to enjoy sunshine and tan, while others escape the heat in the summer and go north to ski and sit by the fireplace. 

There is nothing more beautiful than to see a vast blue, seemingly endless body of water as it appears to brush the sky and know God made this beauty for our eyes and to magnify His greatness. 

~I remain in His Grip~

Kayron

Redeemed

I have a heart that loves, but a heart that gets mad.

I have a soul that lives to serve, but I get tired at times.

I have a Savior that died on the cross for me, but yet my flesh fails me and I  sin.

I have a Father, a  God whom I pray to in the name of His Son , Jesus, but there are times when my heart has the words but my lips do not utter the words of praise and adornment. 

I have the Holy Spirit dwelling in my temple,  but sometimes I try to take charge of a temple that is not mine to govern.

My cup has Jesus, overflowing with all that I need.

Thank God! I am redeemed!

~k.d.huff~

Quiet Splendor

On my way home from church feeling the warmth of sunshine on my face I was reminded of life and death, rest and sleep and the comparison of God's beautiful creations: the heavens and earth and man.

In the midst of our cold winters and dreary days we see the GROUNDS loose their luster as they turn from green to brown, the trees shed their leaves and stand bare, the rose bush once aflame with red buds now stands broken and lifeless.

In the midst of our cold winters and dreary days we see our BODIES loose their moist sparkle now to take on an ashed appearance, our outdoor activities are now limited, and we tend to reach for things of comfort as we too, are somewhat like the rose bush, lifeless and broken.

This beautiful earth and man have similarities, but the source of both creations is God. HE designed all creation to slumber. To die the trees and vegetation awake to take on new shape, new form. Thus, man does too. He claims the "new body", "new life", as the soul never dies but continues into eternity.

I will lie down and sleep in peace.

Lord, you alone keep me safe.

Psalm 4:8

Colors Of The Spirit

Let our days speak of big, bold, beautiful bright hues……”Nature always wears the colors of the spirit.”

Our days can be bleak, a little challenging at times, but never so much that the beauty of this life we've been given is overshadowed by the fact that we can do all things. Nothing is impossible, if we believe. The accomplishment you make is yours, it's mine. Let's take ownership!

Our Dreams....

Dreams....they belong to us. As a child it was always my dream to simply marry and be a mother. As I grew and matured, my dream changed. Later on I wanted to become a nurse. I pursued my dream, but in mid-stream, again it changed. I entered the adult phase of my life completing my educational years and finally all my dreams came true. I married, became a mother and cared for all her little cuts and bruises...so, yes, I became a nurse. The greatest lesson through all this growing, learning and dreaming was I had to WANT THE DREAM.

    “Throw your dreams into space like a kite, and you do not know what it will bring back, a new life, a new friend, a new love, a new country.”
 ~Anais Nin~

Beauty

Outside the wind breaks through the trees, softly brushing my face as another beautiful and glorious day breathes life into a chilled winter day. I say, "It is good." Soon Spring will push her warmth into the air announcing her beauty as it once again arrives. 

                  Trees

I THINK that I shall never see  

A poem lovely as a tree.  

  

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest  

Against the sweet earth's flowing breast;  

  

A tree that looks at God all day,          

And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in summer wear  

A nest of robins in her hair;  

  

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;  

Who intimately lives with rain.  

  

Poems are made by fools like me,  

But only God can make a tree.

     

 Joyce Kilmer. 1886–1918

The Past

"Your past mistakes are meant to guide you, not define you."

~Author Unknown~

Dictionaries are full of many definitions of the word "mistake". The best and most accurate is simple: an error in action. I'm trading in my errors and accepting guidance. I choose the "right direction".

Bound by Love

A child needs the love of both parents. Both parents need the love of the child. Bound by the love of the child, the parents' love will remain whole and complete. 
"Parents, let this be your mission through life, now and always let it always be

for the love of the child.


A parent's love
is whole no matter how
many times divided."
--Robert Brault--

Ripples

So many times I want to do something great, make a difference. I am only one person, but if a stone can make a ripple off the surface of the water perhaps I can make a ripple in the life of a friend.

"I alone am unable to change the world,

but I can cast a stone across

the waters to create many ripples."

~Mother Teresa~