Unfortunately Right (Texas Flooding update #2)

Four days later, and unfortunately the expectations were right in that the death count went up from 9 to 19 (well last I saw on the news late last night). 6 of them were 2 grandparents with 4 great grandchildren in a van together. A son was the sole survivor.

Another loss in that count was an officer who was on h  is way in the early morning hours to help others. Also a well known and loved coach who had been a part of helping to rescue others. 

This devastation continues as the waters are still rising in some areas. Rivers and different waters have to take their course in going downstream, which adds more water to lower areas already flooded.

 I’m not sure why, but the National Guard and other Official Rescue teams coming to help stopped ALL rescues from continuing after dark, regardless of the urgency. I understand the threat. It’s just hard after watching local volunteers save thousands because they still went out after dark (as untrained rescuers).I thought our military trained for such things.

Another unfortunate right is the looting that unfortunately is happening. Some things are down right evil. News reports were warning and reassuring at the same time that individuals were going to homes impersonating immigration officers to enter and rob homes.

The good news is that Harvey is finally moving out of the area, and weakening considerably. There are also several different fundraisers and donations nation wide, including celebrities and major companies putting forth millions. Please continue to pray for Texas, Louisiana, and all those affected by Harvey, and on the way to help.

Calm In The Storm

Lord, what a dark night… a dark and dreadful night… but it was not my dark and dreadful night. I was blessed with warm and dry shelter. Those stranded in the dark and cold muddy waters were living this nightmare, along with their rescuers. Yet I could not leave that screen. I could not leave them. Especially when it was just volunteers left to help. The night was getting late after so many had been waiting for so long, and much more rain was on the way. The reservoirs and levees were going to release water to try to save them from collapse, yet there was no guarantee they wouldn’t anyway.

As I watched this for hours, my heart and blood pressure were up. I could hear voices saying stop worrying, it wasn’t good for me, worrying wasn’t going to help the victims. I prayed as I saw each rescue, and heard each group plea to help those still stranded. And those children, Lord, with little infants! How could I possibly leave that screen knowing children and babies were out there? I tried to reason that rescue efforts would take days. I knew I couldn’t stay awake like that anymore. That made me realize a lot of things.

When I was younger, my anxiety would NOT let me rest if I heard of turmoil. In some ways that was good. Others would ask me to stay with them through tragic times, or ask me to sit with their family or friend. Reliable and strong were the most common words I heard. But that was all you giving me the strength. At other times it seemed like a curse or a heavy weight to carry, that was absolutely taking me under.

Tonight, Lord, I felt calm in the storm. I was not less concerned, but I could feel my anxiousness give way as soon as I even began to worry. It felt so calming. That is the word that comes to mind. There’s nothing wrong with being calm during a storm. If volunteers were not calm they could not rescue. At times a rescuer is challenged by a frantic victim who becomes life-threatening. This made me pray for the volunteers.

Remaining calm allowed me to think… remembering being rescued in storms a couple of times… as a child… as a disabled adult (close to bed ridden)…  watching my mom suffer night and day for months… unable to ease her pain… expected to sleep in my bed right beside her… knowing any time she could pass. How cruel to close my eyes and supposedly my ears to her pain so I could sleep. If it weren’t for your grace and the medicines you allow, I would have not remained calm to do what was being asked of me.

You allowed these medicines to keep me calm, pray, and absolutely trust you. I just grabbed my color journal and calmly waited as I listened and learned. Sometimes to the news. Sometimes to you showing me all kinds of things about myself, and how far you and I have come. At one point, while in prayer you allowed me to fall asleep. In the past I would have felt like a monster, but now I understand I am human. You made the medicine and the calm feel like good friends. It was nice… to have good friends, and to feel good about it instead of feeling guilty.

There are many things I have absolutely no control over. I must choose to trust you. Thank you for the calm in the storm. You remind me of Matthew 8:23-26.

And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.

 

 

A Heartbreaking Night (Family and Friends in Texas Flooding Update)

For hours I watched such a heartbreaking tragedy continue as volunteers rescued loads and loads of Houston flood victims… literally. While the Coast Guard and many government officials and First Responders were rescuing thousands of people/families throughout the day, when the sun when down it was just volunteers with a few boats and a couple of extremely large dump truck looking like vehicles still going back for more people. These trucks were large enough to carry 70 or so victims, and as they would arrive back they had people clinging all over the side.

As they began to unload by placing these extremely long ladders to the back… men, women, children, babies, elderly, and disable folks were helped out of the truck. Family after family. Always with babies, children, and disabled each time. One load had 10 infants, several toddlers, children, and their families. A journalist who faithfully reported throughout this ordeal would ask each one which area they came from, how were they rescued, how many came with them, how many were still waiting, what was that area like, and how did they get word out that they were stranded.

When one little girl (about 6 or 7) was asked how many were waiting, she answered a million. With an understanding slight chuckle under his breath he asked if she meant a million like in her classroom, on her school bus, in the lunch room? Her eyes lit up with the lunch room and she quickly said, “A lot more.” Many people were saying their cellphones were how they got word that they were stranded, and as it fell night they used their lights from their phones to get the attention of rescue vehicles passing by.

I know I watched at least 7 or 8 hours straight of rescues in this particular area, and they were bringing them in by the hundreds each hour. And for every family they rescued, there was always the plea to help family still waiting. All of the volunteers at this point were local citizens or people who just came to help… and did for several hours… wading, riding, and standing in the same cold muddy water as the drenched victims. The shelters were filling up with no way to feed them, clothe them, and were loading people into the back of extremely large furniture/moving trucks to take them to a local Wal-Mart, to put them on buses, to then go to shelters. Dallas had even opened shelters to offer victims a safe place to go with their children and families.

It was so heart breaking watching all of this. There were young children struggling to carry their infant siblings because there were far more children and babies than there were adults. These volunteers had answered the call of a judge who put out a public plea that if anyone had a boat or way of helping to do it. He stated that no one had to wait to sign any waivers. If they could help… do it. These volunteers saved thousands of lives that were not only fleeing a massively flooded area by 30 inches of rain, but one that was still expecting 20 more inches.

I was grateful for my family and friends who were marking themselves safe on this FB page that would let you know if any of your friends and family did so, without my even having to check for them (even though I did).  Hurricane Harvey Facebook Safety Check. I could not just turn off my laptop and go to sleep. I felt like I would be abandoning them. I had to pray. I had to make sure each one made it in.

Eventually my medicines won out as I laid my head back for a moment to pray. When I awoke an hour later, it was time to start my day by taking my son to work and heading to physical therapy. When I finished my day, it was news time. Over 10,000 people were rescued. There were 7 who were killed with numbers expected to rise. Houston is the 4th largest city in the U.S.. It will take days for some things to improve, but weeks for all of the water to go down, according to the experts. Click here for pictures and news footage.

Thank you to each one who prayed, and continues to pray. Texas needs it! Louisiana will as well as the storm is crossing the eastern part of Texas and beginning to hit them. Hurricane/Tropical Storm Harvey has now been recorded as the largest rainfall to hit the U.S. ever. Please pray for those trying to rescue, shelter, and supply the flood victims. They, too, have had loss of life and property, yet are still out there helping whoever they can. Pray for different humanitarian groups and volunteers on their way to help. And remember each one of those families, especially with the young children and disabled.

Please Pray for Texas Family and Friends In Catastrophic Flooding

Friends around the world please pray for family friends who are experiencing catastrophic flooding In Texas. The Hurricane and the rains with it are far from through. Houston area has already received over 30 inches, and with the storm stalled out and expected to last for several days there is the possibility of the area receiving 50 inches total. Please pray!Catastrophic Flooding in Texas See pictures and weather updates here.

Advice for dealing with cancer patients

Thanks for the insight, Crystal. May you always know the Lord is with you! May you feel His Presence and His embrace. May you know that you are thought of and prayed for. God loves you!

It’s awkward, isn’t it? You find out someone you care about just got diagnosed with cancer. It’s terrifying and you want to be there for them but you don’t know what to do, say, or even how to act.

As a cancer patient myself, I know we aren’t exactly the easiest people to deal with. We forget things easily, we get stressed out, anxiety is at an all time high, and we are frightened. Cancer is traumatic. While we are literally fighting for our lives, we are simultaneously trying to maintain friendships and relationships with family, have a little bit of a life when possible, and trying to keep a sliver of normalcy in our far-from-normal worlds. As you can probably imagine, it’s a lot to handle and there’s no guidebook on how to deal with the emotional side of cancer. I’ve said things I didn’t mean and I’ve been…

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Mystery Blogger Award 8-25-17

Dear Lord, you make my cup runneth over! Your love flows like a fountain! You give me the blessing of drinking from the springs of living water. Your song says there shall be showers of blessings! You are absolutely using Lovely A to send the rain! She is such a giving soul, Lord. You have gifted her with knowledge, encouragement, compassion, patience, and a love for you, which shows in her love for others. Thank you for leading me to discovering your happiness in her. May you glory be seen above all.Thank you, Lovely A, for The Mystery Blogger Award nomination!  Praise the Lord! He is worthy! I am blessed to call Him Lord and to call you friend! May you continue discovering YOUR happiness.! May you always know God’s self care for you! I love reading what He gives you, and your heart to share the information you share with others! If anyone needs a pick me up, or feels like they need to talk to someone who has been there, you are open to welcome them in.

     Rules for the Award
Feature the award logo/image on your blog post
List the rules
Thank the blogger that nominated you
Tell readers 3 things about yourself
Answer the questions provided
Nominate 10-20 bloggers and notify them by commenting on their blog
Ask your nominees 5 questions of your choice, with one weird/funny question (specify)
Share and link to your best post(s)
Creator of this award is 19-year-old Okoto (Enigma Okotoenigmasblog)

3 Things About Myself
1. I love God! (hence the blog name)
2. I love Jesus! (God’s Son ❤ )
3. I love the Holy Spirit! (He teaches me about my God!)

My Answers to the Questions Asked of Me
What is your favorite quote + why?
“Jesus Christ died for you. What more do you want Him to do? Die Again?” It’s convicting.
If you could give relationship advice, what would it be?
Keep God first… individually AND as a couple.
What does your typical weekend look like?
Church, rest, sometimes a treat with a special friend
Do you believe in horoscopes?
God tells us they can cause confusion, troubling the soul.
What does a self care day look like to you?
feet elevated, lotions, eye drops, shower, washing hair

My Nominees
Splendor in Embers
A Poet’s Paradise
Lonely Blue Boy
Reema’s Garden
The Godly Chic Diaries
InnerManTheatre
AnxietyDepressionandMe

My Best Posts
A Friend Loveth at All Times
River Baptisms
Me and Writing

May the Lord fill your cup, overflowing, and pouring out! God loves you!

30 Posts Challenge: #30, Challenging You

Can you believe it, Guys! We made it to 30! Took me long enough, huh! To be honest… I wasn’t so confident I would finish. I can procrastinate, give up, or feel defeated. As you may have read, I was closed off to the world pretty good. I had become so afraid of it. Afraid of living. Those last words were the strongest truth behind doing the challenge.

I was doing an online bible study when I saw Fatima (Splendors in Embers) post her hospital stay after her suicide attempt. I was so concerned for her because I’ve known her since she was in preschool. At first, I was surprised… not just because we didn’t know each other’s personal life like that… but because I was having my own struggle.

I was not in a hospital, but I could not encourage her with lies I was not believing myself at the time, or not willing to LIVE by. I was afraid someone deep in depression would see through anything I post… be further burdened… more encouraged to leave her babies better off without her. And a very selfish part of me, afraid she could expose me… ruin my plans… or talk me out of them without even knowing they were there.

As I did pray for her privately, the Lord led me to do 2 things… 1. Let Fatima know I was praying for her… 2. Let my own therapist know my struggle. With God’s help, I did both. In my struggle, I was avoiding commitment so nothing could hold me back. I knew my faith would not play yoyo with my peace of mind. I was taking my time to be sure.

I began to do Fatima’s challenge using my WordPress to post. With thoughtful prayer I opened my privacy settings on Facebook and WordPress. I told no one so I could close them if need be. When I finished the aspects, I would close everything back. Yet I found myself curious of a self care blog. After I signed up, I realized commitments! But Lovely A had the Lord whispering in her ear… Don’t think of it as commitment.

Before I knew it I had a new friend in Australia, Staffordshire, and Dublin. God’s whispers were heard around the globe, and responded to, and shared. His whispers were no longer just for me. The same thing was happening on my Facebook, my Group page, when I went to church, when I ran into a friend. God used Fatima’s blog. And the patience of someone who listened and kept me from flying. He too had God on His side.

Having said this long post, I challenge you… to open up… to trust… maybe even take Fatima’s 30 Truth Posts Challenge. You can read here below her 3 rules. https://splendorinembers.wordpress.com/2017/06/03/you-are-challenged-do-the-30-post-truth-challenge/
1. Let her know you’re going to do it.
2. Create 30 Posts in whatever media you choose.
3. Let her know when you finish.

Most importantly I encourage you to open up to someone if you are struggling with your darkness. I know I have been vague with the specific terms, but if you are contemplating giving up you know exactly what I am talking about. There is hope… even if it’s just in another day! The Lord made that one too!

30 Posts Challenge: #29, One Last Aspect

Hey Guys. You’re still with me on the 30 Posts Challenge? 29 posts later? Yes, we still have the one after this, but I have that one planned. The challenge was 30 true aspects about myself. This is one I dodge so well, I almost talked myself out of bogging it. I start a sentence then delete, a paragraph, delete, or just sit, trying to get the nerve to say it.

I’ve struggled with eating since I was 13. Now if I don’t delete it, you will read it.

When I was 13, my dad got called to my school. He was told I never eat, and had an eating disorder. I had no knowledge of it, and when my dad asked, I didn’t take it serious. The school had classmates literally follow me to see if I eat, and if I ate what I did afterwards. One was a friend who told me. They had my dad watching. I didn’t eat.

Our counselor sat me down, but I didn’t understand anorexia. I hated to chew. I didn’t know it then but I had fibromyalgia, and hurt when chewing too tough or too long. I thought eating was boring. It took so much time to eat. I didn’t understand I also had digestive issues, and not eating was making it worse.

They brought in outside counseling who tried to bully me into eating. Bad idea. One counselor called my home saying I was at school on drugs, threatening to kill myself. My mom and dad got so mad they were lied to and scared to death. The school was upset enough that they backed off on outside help.

Instead they had teachers talk to all of us. They said Karen Carpenter had just died from it. I’m glad they did because while I was not anorexic, I was doing anorexic like behaviors. The one that was a “deal breaker” was throwing up. I didn’t like doing that anyway. It made me easily sick, and I struggled with throwing up a lot since I was 3.

I remember warnings on losing teeth, a damaged heart, a ruined digestive system, and more. I was diagnosed with a damaged heart valve at 17, was a high risk pregnancy at 18, had a C-section because my baby kept losing his heart beat, lost a 10 year dental battle to dentures by 30, and began stomach meds at 24 and probably won’t get off them.

I learned later it was some to do with going without food a lot. My dad gave us Pepto-Bismol often to keep our stomachs from hurting. I saw on TV people who had food and missed a meal would be sick. I was afraid to eat then hurt because in my mind I didn’t know hunger, and didn’t want to, especially since people did bad things when they did.

As I started taking meds I got sick, almost passing out in public. That and having gall bladder surgery at 28 got me eating. Physically unable by 35 to walk 5 miles like I use to, swim all day, ride bikes, or work hard caused weight gain. My docs say 80-100 lbs. are meds. The battle’s been so long, my docs who knew me as active are gone, and docs I gain now believe I’ve always been big. One insisted I prove I was EVER small with pics.

SO… now you know.

I’m looking into bariatric surgery, as surrender that without physical activity it’s highly unlikely I’ll get it off, or may gain more. I’m afraid of diabetes, liver disease, and complicating my spinal issues. I’m afraid of being at the mercy of others, especially as an obese patient. If life is going to take me out because I can’t be active, I get tempted to think it’s best not to take part now. That is the Lord’s call. I do not want to give up. In praying about it, that is why I consider it…. to save my life.

Blogger Recognition Award 8.24.17

God is so good and generous with His outpouring of love! He has poured out blessings to me again through dearest Lovely A! Thank you, discoveringyourhappiness.com,  for the nomination on the Blogger Recognition Award! Thank you for continuing to let God use you to pour out His love to me! More crowns to lay at His feet!!! ❤ ❤ ❤ I definitely discovered my happiness in good self care advice and friendship! There is so much to learn and apply on her site. I love her weekend posts, and the pictures she includes.How I Got Started Blogging
According to WordPress, I began blogging in May of 2016 (Just like our Lovely A!), but I did not become semi regular until I began a challenge with a good friend of our family, someone who was a classmate of my son, Pre-K through 5th grade. In doing her challenge, I took a risk and opened my blog for everyone to see. I had been a very private person, and was extremely apprehensive about giving the world access to me, but it was something the Lord was leading me to do. I told no one, not even the family friend, in case I had any issues I could just close it back without hurting anyone’s feelings. I followed the link to someone who had liked my post and “discovered” a self care challenge that got me curious. That’s where I met Lovely A, and became a regular by doing her 21 Day Self care Challenge.

2 Pieces of Advice for New Bloggers
1. Don’t be afraid to take a chance on people, no matter how scary the world may be.
Yes, we need to be careful, but we do not have to be closed off. We need each other to know we are not alone in the struggles we have when it sure feels like it.
2. If you are trying to save your e-mails as I do, make sure to pay attention to where the notifications read… There is a new post/response on SOANDSO. It helps to know where to go read and/or reply. I do not want to miss anything!

Nominees
Sara in La La Land
A Fractured Faith
Red Letters
Crystal Harper
Elan Mudrow
Inner Man Theatre
Splendor in Embers
A Balanced Woman’s Voice
Beauty Beyond Bones
Kimberly Brookshire
Song of Virginity
Pure Glory
Pastor Jonathan Jordan
The River Walk

All glory to God in the Highest! May His Holy Name Be Lifted Up, and Each Soul Spiritually Encouraged! If it weren’t for Him, I wouldn’t Be! ❤

Self Care Day 21 Simple Pleasure Follow Up

Today as I was doing my nails and getting pics for the Simple Pleasure blog from Self Care Day 21, I found myself missing the challenge already… BUT at least there is still the friendship found on discoveringyourhappiness! and the many self care habits that have been continuing… listening to Lovey A Challenge 19 playlist, decluttering, meditation, drinking water, better sleep, back to PT, talking with friends, and so much more. I definitely found gain! Good gain! So as promised… pics with the nail polish that I put on, and the lipstick I’m still working on the nerve to try. It’s suppose to be permanent for a good bit, and I do not like to draw attention to myself. We’ll just keep praying and see! God loves you each and everyone! <

30 Posts Challenge: #28, My 2017 Solar Eclipse Experience

Hi Guys. Did you survive your solar eclipse day… lol? I know you have your story to tell. So many people were doing different things, and had different kinds of reactions to their experience… or lack of. It’s hard to believe it was just yesterday. Well, except for all of the traffic trying to head home.

A few months back, ads and news reports were saying there was coming a solar eclipse. Later people were panicking because the special glasses were running out of supply. People were making lavish plans in areas for 100% total eclipse… meaning the moon would cover the entire sun with an outer glow perfectly encircling the moon. This could make one go blind or have permanent eye damage. Scientist were saying cameras weren’t safe. It would destroy them. There were ways to view… i.e. welding glasses, etc.

My son asked me, “If that time is so dangerous it can kill camera lenses, is it safe for us to be out there even with protective glasses?” We watched from the porch (away from the sun). My brother let his security cameras record. When I told him of the warning, he simply replied, “I’ve got spares.” He wasn’t missing footage… lol. This is one of his pics.

As time drew near, we began watching NASA footage online. My son went to make it reflect to the ground. It worked enough to be exciting to cast something happening in the skies to the ground, but it was a white dot on cardboard. Just as the eclipse was drawing near its end, our neighbor drove in. He pulled out his old welding helmet. He offered us each a turn to look. It was such a difference!

Before putting on the helmet, the sky had a hue as if dusk was setting in. Even the crickets were singing loudly. After putting on the helmet and looking up, everything was black except the sun ring around the moon! How incredible was that! It was so brief, but it was like God saying, “Here. Have a peek at my wonders. It is pretty amazing!”

This was extra meaningful to me as I asked God earlier that morning (4:30am) if there was a friend we had to look into His sky… with a telescope. I get amazed at God’s beauty. It was dark, but I could easily see God! And God being His personal loving self,  answered a prayer in a way I would have never expected. Thank you, Neighbor! God bless you!

Soon it was all over. People in many places were upset because of cloud coverage, or simply let down from what they were expecting. Personally, I think science makes it out bigger than what it is to get people’s attention, but end up disappointing them far worse. So that’s my 2017 Solar Experience (later dubbed on the news as the Great American Solar Eclipse). My stepdad slept through the whole thing. What’s yours?

Liebster Award, August 21, 2017

Praise our Generous and Thoughtful God! What kindnesses He allows… in whispering into my ear, encouraging me to write, challenging me through others, and sending me a new friend. In all these things He has used Lovely A  ❤ to do each… and more. Her blog is very inviting, very encouraging, and solely focused on helping others to find happiness.. hence the name of her bog discovering your happiness.

She reads each comment and responds and within very good time. She shares so much of herself that you feel like you gain a friend. When doing the 21 Day Self Care Challenge, all the challenges were to encourage, to teach, to support, and to genuinely help others learn more on bettering themselves. While it was a daily challenge there was never a pressure about time. I came across it on Day 3 and was given such positivity and confidence. I thank you, Lovely A (Amiga) ❤ , for your nomination on the Liebster Award! I consider this a crown to lay at His feet!  May the Lord continue to bless your gift in motivating others! God loves you! ❤
Having said this… I must say too that discoveringyourhappiness.com is my favorite blog. I would have said so without an award. I was just curious when I stumbled on it, but I am glad that God used curiosity to get me out of my comfort zone. Fear easily keeps me from doing anything requiring commitment (which Lovely A would tell me to think of it as one step at a time, not a commitment).

LIEBSTER AWARD RULES TO FOLLOW IF YOU ACCEPT:
Thank and promote the blogger who nominated you.
Answer the 11 questions you were asked.
Tag 5-11 new bloggers who you think deserve some love.
Create 11 new questions for your nominees.
For the full list of rules, check out the Global Aussie page, https://theglobalaussie.com/blog/liebster-award-2017
and you can also choose your Liebster Award image there!

Answering the Questions:
1.Whereabouts in the world are you from? North Carolina, USA
2 How long have you been blogging for? Since May 2016
3. What does your morning routine look like? Take son to work by 4 or 5 am, devotions, breakfast
4. What do you do for self care? Shower, sleep, elevate legs/feet, therapies, lotions, powders, meds, water, live, pray
5. Lollies or Chocolate? Can’t we do both? No? Chocolate
6. What a typical weekend looks like for you? church and rest
7. What is one of your hobbies? writing
8. Places you’ve traveled? Georgia, South Carolina, Florida, Tennessee, Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania
9. Places you want to travel to? Australia, Jerusalem, Great Britain,
10. Where you see yourself in 5 years? With God, wherever I am.
11. Where do you see your blog in 5 years? Wherever God takes it.

NOMINEES FOR LIEBSTER AWARD:
1. Inner Man Theatre
2. Jonathan Jordan
3. Red Letters
4. Crystal Harper
5. Lene in Japan
6. Kimberly Brookshire
7. From the Depths
8. Anxiety, Depression, and Me
9. Disletti

Questions for Nominees:
1. What day of the week is best for you to blog?
2. Do you know how much God loves you?
3. How often do you post… daily, weekly, monthly?
4. Do you read other bloggers’ posts?
5. Do you visit other blogger’s pages?
6. Do you know how important you are?
7. Did you do a kindness today?
8. Have you read the Bible… or at least try to?
9. What’s your favorite song?
10. Who is your favorite relative?
11. What can you cook?

Please tag me when you do your blogpost (send me a link to read your blog post).
May you always know how much God loves you. You mean everything to Him. ❤
I pray everything He allows me to write or put out there in the world lets Him and everyone know… Gail Loves God! ❤

Self Care Challenge Day 21: Simple Pleasures

Lord, I’m mixed with sadness and gratefulness. Today we end the 21 Day Self Care Challenge that you and I began weeks ago, reluctant as I was to commitment. Curiosity and desire to improve anything in my health or life that you were willing to address led to self awareness, insight, and a blessing you gave I did not expect… a new friend! A fellow believer!

We are to have a GOOD DAY by choosing one thing to do… and enjoy it. I have some clear nail polish I like to use to keep my nails strong (they hurt when they chip off) that I have not used in months. Every time I put it on, here comes another medical treatment or issue that keeps me from being able to use it again for awhile.

There was a time I use to wear make up, nail polish, simple jewelry (if it didn’t cause a skin reaction, or harm babies and children when holding them, and could take the wear and tear I take), and never went without a watch or earrings. As I started having surgeries, procedures, and other health related issues, they would make me take off jewelry and nail polish. I gave up. I’ve not worn a watch since 2004, and I don’t remember how long since earrings.

Ironic thing… health issues from the last couple of years have led to recommendations from doctors to use different skin care items, especially for dehydration. I have a special lipstick I have not used yet. Maybe I will use it? We’ll see. But nail polish is a treat for sure. Thanks for the chance to wear it. That may seem trivial, but breaking nails is not.

Self Care Challenge Day: 20: Creativity

Yay! And praise you, Dear Lord. You just keep showering me with blessings in this self-care challenge. Our challenge tonight is to color, and journal on how we felt while coloring. You know I have that coloring journal you led me to get. It was so comforting, and so relaxing, and saved me many a day that I needed to “have my focus elsewhere”. It even brought your Word to life… “When a man’s ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.” Proverbs 16:7 KJV

Well, sadly it has been laying on my bed for a couple of months. Another one of those things I felt guilty to even “waste” my time on. Thank you for including it in the challenge. I will be sure to either listen with my new Lovely A Challenge 18 Playlist, in silence, or both. Just to know I will get a chance already puts a smile on my face and a pep in my step (even though it’s bed time…lol). Yeah right. 😉

30 Posts Challenge: #27, Ripping Your Heart Out

It’s hard ripping your heart out when you believe you have found love… the love of your life. When the only reason you are walking away is because God tells you this is not the one. If there were not that reason, everything would be perfect. At least that’s what you think… because the world is telling you so. Your heart is telling you it is. But Christ, who is your first love insists it’s not love He has chosen for you. There is nothing wrong with this person as a friend, but the love that draws you in is not of God.

The Lord says clearly, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” – 2 Corinthians 6:14 KJV. You have believed in Christ so long, you no longer recognize words that deceive. Confusion sets in because the one who is sending these mixed messages is Satan himself. By the time you hear James 2:19 warning “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble”, Satan no longer bothers with you. Your heart is so filled with a false sense of love that you don’t even realize you are waist high in quicksand.

This love… why is it so wrong? Especially when it is so strong? This person is not a bad person. You know God loves them. You know He died for them. You’ve heard them say God told them to be good to you before they lose you. Why is God asking you to rip your heart out? to rip theirs out? what if there is never love again? Christ has such little room in your heart with you pushing Him out with each plea to live in this fairytale that is misery in disguise… for both of you… when it is not what God wants. You are so persuaded by the world’s idea of love and the overwhelming consensus that this is the one for you that you do not remember that if Christ is not in it, then it is not of God, and is not love. If you had listened to God in the beginning, you would not be confused. You would not have another soul wrapped up in the same false hope.

Suddenly, as your head is just about to go under, you see a hand and recognize it to be yours. What has gotten your attention was the feel of a rope. Your first Love is throwing you a lifeline, trying to save you from your self destruction. The little bit of Christ still in your heart reaches out for the rope. Christ pulls it, even with you looking back. He holds you as you cry. He know what it’s like to know love and lose it… and by His grace He just rescued her. He lets her know He understands her need for love, to be wanted, to be thought of as special, to have someone be protective, and to feel that love make them smile. He promises there will be love again. Even if He is that Love. Christ shows you the loss of love was worth the sacrifice, just like He thought you were on cavalry.