The Reading List 3

                                         Everyday is a brand new day, everyday is a journey.

I've rediscovered reading books once again. I love books of all types and I've made a promise to myself this past Summer to make time to sit down to read. Let me engross myself in something other than my problems. Here a few that I've read so far.

Wait And See
By: Wendy Pope
This is actually a great bible study type of book where we can write in the answers. The whole study is about seeing the waiting period in our lives as a learning experience instead of something we dread. I actually learned how terrible I am during the waiting on God period. She does offer very insightful commentary on the behavior we all experience as we wait.

Soul Food
By: Havilah Cunnington
I really enjoyed this book. It dealt with what we need spiritually to feed our soul and how our soul needs to be fed on a daily basis. The story began in the Garden of Eden and ended up at The Last Supper. My favorite line from the book God endured the Cross because it takes more than bread to stay alive. He wants to rescue, redeem and restore you. 

Finding I Am 
By: Lysa Terkuerst      
In this book, Lysa describes and goes over the seven I am statements made by God.  It's fascinating to read how these seven I AM statements apply to our everyday life. Another surprise in this book? The actual names of the seven I Am statements.  Some are pretty obvious, but there is one that we always assumed was part of it and isn't. You'll have to read the book to find out the answer.


It doesn't matter what you choose to read, the idea here is not to lose that feel of a good book. Sit down and read a book!

Have a blessed day everyone.

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Two Months In

                                         Everyday is a brand new day, everyday is a journey.



Shall I hold on with both hands to every paltry possession? 
All I have teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen.
--Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Looking around my bedroom this morning, I grimaced both inwardly and out by the mess. It's only this room that resembles chaos and still hasn't been put together. Moving is a great TASK! Just when one believes everything has been transferred over or filled out, there's always something else. Every box that is opened, I wonder how in the world I fit all this stuff into that small apartment I left. 

I think we all experience this chaotic transition and I know there are people that have boxes still unpacked from when they have moved years ago. I hate clutter and I hate a mess. So I guess you know what I have been working on these past couple of days. It's only been around two months and yet our expectations are great. I want normalcy as soon as possible.


Life here keeps moving regardless of what is going on spiritually or mentally inside of us. The axis turns, days turn into nights and over once again. I am learning how easy it is to get behind and how difficult it can be to work out of boxes, searching for items that have mysteriously disappeared. 

A lot has been going on these past two months. Emily has found a new job around town, which means another schedule change for all of us to get used to. I know I have gotten used to a meal being ready when I get home from work. This isn't the case anymore as her schedule involves afternoon and nights on certain occasions. We never appreciate what we have until we lose it.

We have found a Church that we call home, but we haven't begun any volunteering as of yet. I did sign up for a welcome luncheon after Church to become formally introduced into the fold.

In the meantime, life intervenes with various struggles, upheavals and just existence. We need to work, we need to shop and we need to clean. In between all of that, we socialize, we enjoy our hobbies and we do our Ministry work. There is a schedule there somewhere, a routine waiting to emerge. Hopefully it will get here soon. 

Have a Blessed day everyone. 

Epiphany Day!

                                        Everyday is a brand new day, everyday is a journey.


A blue bird built his nest
Here in my breast.
"O bird of Light! Whence comest thou?"
Said he, "From God above:
My name is Love."

A mate he brought one day,

Of plumage gray.

"O bird of Night! Why comest thou?"

Said she: "Seek no relief!

My name is Grief."

--Laurence Alma-Tadema.

What is an Epiphany? One hears people often speak of it, but what is it really? How do we know we have it? How can we get it? What do we have to do to achieve it?

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/epiphany

3a (1) : a usually sudden manifestation or perception of the essential nature or meaning of something (2) : an intuitive grasp of reality through something (as an event) usually simple and striking (3) : an illuminating discovery, realization, or disclosureb : a revealing scene or moment.

In my reflections this morning, I tried to remember my epiphany moment. It happened many years ago in a Church that I visited for the first time. I found something very dear and important that day. I found out what I really wanted in Life. I found out I wanted to follow Jesus. 

That was my epiphany moment. It felt so right and perfect in every way. I knew then that this is what my heart has been searching for all along. A glorious feeling. A moment that still brings me to tears whenever I revisit it.

It is a well known fact among all my friends that I'm what they call a "Jesus freak" even though they may not be one thenselves. For years I have been praying for these friends of mine in the hope they also will develop a loving relationship with Jesus. As the years have been passing with no success, I'm realizing that it may require a lot of work for their epiphany to happen. Lord knows, my own took twenty long years from the time that first seed was planted.

You see, when I was 19 years old, a fellow co-worker invited me to visit her Church. Being raised as a Catholic, I never really knew of other religions and their rituals. So here I am, all of 18 or 19 yrs. of age walking into a well-known Hotel chain to Church. They whooped and hollered speaking of sinners. I've never seen anything like it before in my life. What kind of Church is this? In a hotel conference room? Where is the altar?  

I ran out the door and it basically took another twenty years later before I could see Christ was there all along. Now I'm the one whooping, hollering, singing Jesus praise in Church. How ironic is that? I am full of hope and promise that my friends will one day accept Jesus as I have done, even if it takes them a little longer. 

Do you remember you're epiphany moment? Was it spiritual like mine? How has it changed your life? I would love to hear all about it. Please share with everyone in the comments below. 

Have a blessed day everyone.  

The Wellspring

                                          Everyday is a brand new day, everyday is a journey.




Between us and Thyself remove
Whatever hindrances may be,
That so our inmost heart may prove
A holy temple, meet for Thee.
LATIN MSS. OF 15TH CENTURY.

well·spring

ˈwelˌspriNG/

noun

literary

1. an original and bountiful source of something.

   
   
   

   "sadness is the wellspring of creativity"

There is nothing more humbling than a prayer that has been answered, especially if it took years to come to fruition. I remember my friend's happiness when the Lord finally answered her prayer of a husband. She waited a very long time for this man, but when he did come she was so overwhelmed by the blessing, she could not stop crying. Every Sunday for months, one would find her at the foot of the altar on her knees, hands outstretched in praise and thankfulness. She was humbled by God's Grace upon her. 

What does the completion of a dream look like to you? When your prayers have been answered, did you drop to your knees in gratitude with tears streaming down your face? Or did you just carry on as if nothing spectacular occurred?

I, myself, have recently experienced a long awaited prayer come to fruition. I have prayed long and hard. Every time the answer came back a no, I would weep to the Lord why is it always no? Still, I kept praying. I've never spoken of this desire within my heart. Never. Only the Lord Himself heard it.

The question all of you might be wondering about Did I drop to my knees like my friend? No, I did not, but I am humbled beyond anything anyone could imagine. I sat in my car singing out two words thank you, thank you , thank you over and over again. There is such a contentment within my heart. I cannot complain or utter a negative word up to the Lord. How can I when He has fulfilled a prayer that has meant so much to me. 

Am I worthy of this Grace from God? Absolutely not. I am so lacking. God has been my wellspring since I was formed inside my mother's womb. I may have not been aware of it, but He has molded my very being in such a magnificent way that my soul aches for Him. How can I complain to Him? How could I possibly want more? I feel His love encompass me, filling me to the brim with contentment. He is enough. 

Joy and contentment are so fleeting. We need to bask in the sunshine of both every chance we can. I plan on staying awhile here in this moment. Thank you, thank you, Jesus, thank you.

Have a blessed day everyone. 

Letting Go

                                                    Everyday is a brand new day,
                                                      everyday is a journey.

 

  And, as the path of duty is made plain,
  May grace be given that I may walk therein,
    Not like the hireling, for his selfish gain,
  With backward glances and reluctant tread,
  Making a merit of his coward dread,--
    But, cheerful, in the light around me thrown,
    Walking as one to pleasant service led;
    Doing God's will as if it were my own,
  Yet trusting not in mine, but in His strength alone!
J.G. WHITTIER.

Letting go is hard to do. It's late at night and that phrase has popped into my mind after a very turbulent, emotionally ridden day. Change, letting go or moving on is much easier to say rather than actually do. It's often referred to the ripping off the band-aid, it's sudden, painful and quick. 

I think the young have a harder time of accepting necessary change. They haven't learned how to cope along the edges of living life of hard rocks, knocks and what-be-nots. Life is messy and it's difficult. We will hurt as we move along, some growing faster than others. Some stuck deeply in the roots of weeds, refusing to let go.

It's funny how we are able to handle things as we age. Our stove has broke down twice now. I called the landlord, left a message and went out to Wal-mart to buy a hot plate. I did all that with a deadpan expression, shrugging off the disappointment. Why should I get upset? It will not change anything, the stove will still be broken. 

I have no idea why I feel so at peace here. The place needs work, remember the broken stove? Yet, my life seems so much easier. I sleep well, my stress levels are way down. Everything is close by within reach. My work is a blink away. I can drop everything, run over to my mom's for a quick run to the pharmacy or store or bank and still have plenty of time at home. 

When I was young, the opposite was true. I felt every emotion passionately  and with clenched fists. Letting go wasn't even on the agenda. It is the same with all the young that I know. A broken stove to Emily is like the end of the world. She needs to cook and bake to release. . . to let go. To a friend of ours, a disappointment in a boyfriend ends in a night spent crying. Another, a broken down car, leading to a glass filled with an alcoholic beverage. 

Depression. Anger. Loneliness. Letting go. Wasn't it not too long ago that I sat and reacted just like them? When did letting go become so easy? When has letting go stopped hurting? Maybe, just maybe, I've released what is worth getting upset over and what isn't. A broken stove isn't as bad as getting radiation. I'd rather have a broken stove, Yes, definitely a broken stove.

Have a blessed day everyone. 

I Am Woman

                                                      Everyday is a brand new day,
                                                       everyday is a journey.



I love to think that God appoints
My portion day by day;
Events of life are in His hand,
And I would only say,
Appoint them in Thine own good time,
And in Thine own best way.
A. L. WARING.

Over the last couple of years, there has been so much in the media on peoples rights. One could almost lose their minds with all the abuse our rights have been exposed to, especially on social media. You all know, how much I have been struggling with social media. There are times I just want to give up and walk away from it all. On the other hand, I wouldn't be able to have this blog or the Ministry.

There is nothing I detest more than others telling me what I should believe or be like in their eyes. Believe me, I do know what being a woman means and what it entails. I know what the difference is between a woman of the world and the woman of God. I know what I am. I know what it took for me to get here. 

I also know that women can be each other's worst enemy. Instead of gathering up our resources and becoming stronger together, we beat each other down. Instead of the old mentoring the young, we shake our heads at the antics of the inexperienced. We don't encourage, nurture or listen to one another. Instead we post on social media how vastly unintelligent we are for having a diferent point of view. 

We Christian women of God are to blame as well. Do we reach out to women of a different faith? Of women of different opinion? It's pretty easy to sister to a fellow sister-in-Christ than one who may be a buddhist. It's definitely less painful. 

The world is changing rapidly and so are the women living in that world. The roles we play are no near the same as of our grandmothers, but I know that deep down inside we long for that time. We cannot voice it, because the world would condemn us for it. 

I am growing old or at least feeling old in this new age we as women exist in. I definitely don't belong here nor do I want to.  I feel a loss and a sadness. When did this huge gap begin? How can we close it? I wish I knew, but I will never give up trying .

Have a blessed day everyone.

The Women Of Willow

                                          Everyday is a brand new day, everyday is a journey.


Oh, empty us of self, the world, and sin,
  And then in all Thy fulness enter in;
  Take full possession, Lord, and let each thought
  Into obedience unto Thee be brought;
  Thine is the power, and Thine the will, that we
  Be wholly sanctified, O Lord, to Thee.
C. E. J.

Learn to break the habit of busyness and live out your God-given purpose in life with author, speaker and Executive Director of Propel Women, Alli Worthington. 

I sat and read the words from the Church bulletin as I waited for the service to begin. Excitement filled my being as I read more about the upcoming retreat. I've been searching for that something  
where I can reconnect with fellow sisters of Christ. The more I read, the more I wanted to go. 

Just as sudden as the thought appeared, so did another. It's not that easy. No matter how badly I wanted to go, I knew I first had to stop and determine if this event fell into my list of priorities for the year. Sometimes, we have to make difficult decisions and sacrifices for the good of the family. 

Our schedule for the year involves doctor/dental appointments, family get together's and various projects. There are only so many vacation days we can have and I would have to take a day off from work to go to this retreat. After much thought and consideration, I had to decline. 

Once again, disappointment covered me. Another opportunity missed because of my work schedule. Another reason to dislike my work and my hours. It seems that the devil will not allow me to forget that point. 

I have to quickly remind myself why we moved here. It wasn't for me. It was for her. The opportunities here were endless. I can always go another day, another time. I have been blessed many times over. It was time for her to feel the same.

I'm afraid that in choosing this large Church, I may have opted for exclusion of fellow women in Christ. How do I connect and develop a relationship here when I cannot even make it to the retreat? Or a women's group? There has to be a way, I just have to find it and then make it work.

Have a blessed day everyone.