The TMI Tag 1.30.18

How interesting, Lord. You have allowed Lovely A of Discovering Your Happiness to tag me in The TMI Tag. Thank you, Lovely Anita, for thinking of me. This tag is as interesting and intriguing as your site, filled with answers to so many questions. 😉 God loves you!

1. WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY WEARING?
   clothes 😉
2. HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN LOVE?
   Yes
3. DID YOU EVER HAVE A TERRIBLE BREAKUP?
   Yes
4. HOW OLD ARE YOU?
   knocking on 50
5. HOW TALL ARE YOU?
   taller than average, but not enough to be considered tall
6. HOW MUCH DO YOU WEIGH?
   too much
7. DO YOU HAVE ANY PIERCINGS?
   yes
8. DO YOU HAVE ANY TATTOOS?
   No
9. WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE DRINK?
   chocolate milk
10. WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE SONG?
    right now it’s King of My Heart by Kutless 
11. WHAT’S YOUR ZODIAC SIGN?
    I don’t do astrology.
12. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE YOU TO SHOWER?
    15-20 mins
13. WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE SHOW?
    preaching
14. WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE BAND?
    Red Letters right now
15. SOMETHING YOU REALLY MISS?
    being smaller/healthier 
16. WHERE DO YOU GO WHEN YOU’RE SAD?
    to my Lord and Savior ❤
17. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE YOU TO GET READY IN THE MORNING?
    30 mins to 1 hour
18. HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN A PHYSICAL FIGHT?
    unfortunately
19. WHAT TURNS YOU ON?
    a genuine love for the Lord ❤
20. WHAT TURNS YOU OFF?
    the lack of a relationship with the Lord 
21. QUALITY YOU LOOK FOR IN A PARTNER?
    Christ focused instead of self focused
22. WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE COLOR?
    lavender
23. LOUD MUSIC OR SOFT?
    soft
24. FAVORITE QUOTE?
    God loves you! ❤
25. FAVORITE ACTOR?
    Kirk Cameron
26. DO YOU HAVE ANY FEARS? WHAT THEY ARE?
    Yes… quite a few…
    but fearing the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge
27. WHAT’S THE LAST THING THAT MADE YOU CRY?
    the movie LION
28. MEANING BEHIND YOUR BLOG NAME?
    gaillovesgod means I ❤ God!
29. LAST TIME YOU SAID YOU LOVED SOMEONE?
    To my son
30. LAST BOOK YOU READ?
    sad to say Love by Lang Leav… very disappointing… didn’t like it at all 
31. THE BOOK YOU’RE CURRENTLY READING?
    -Jesus Led, I Simply Followed by Blanca Mesias Miller (long time close friend),
    –Hearts of Fire: Eight Women in the Underground Church and Their Stories of Costly Faith by The Voice of the Martyrs forward by Gracia Burnham,
    -as well as my daily reading of the Holy Bible: Authorized King James Version
32. LAST SHOW YOU WATCHED?
    McLintock (John Wayne movie)
33. LAST PLACE YOU WERE?
    right here
34. LAST SPORT YOU PLAYED?
    sack race
35. WHO’S THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO?
    the Lord
36. LAST SONG YOU SANG?
    Does Jesus Care? (hymn)
37. FAVORITE CHAT UP LINE?
    God loves you!
38. DO YOU HAVE A CRUSH?
    no
39. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN YOU AND THE PERSON YOU LAST TEXTED?
    friends
40. FAVORITE FOOD?
    spasagna and ice-cream
41. PLACE YOU WANT TO VISIT?
    Australia
42. WHAT’S THE LAST TIME YOU KISSED SOMEONE?
    my son
43. LAST TIME YOU WERE INSULTED?
    family pettiness
44. FAVORITE FLAVOR OF SWEET?
    Chocolate
45. WHAT INSTRUMENTS DO YOU PLAY?
    very little piano
46. FAVORITE PIECE OF JEWELRY?
    I don’t have any.
47. LAST TIME YOU HUNG OUT WITH ANYONE?
    watching TV with my stepdad

WHO SHOULD ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS NEXT? TAG THEM……
Because these questions are so personal (Too Much Information) and so lengthy, I will leave the tagging up to you, the reader. PLEASE TAG YOURSELF if you want to do them.
Otherwise, thanks for putting up with my post of answering them.

What To Do If You’re Tagged:
You can participate if you want, if not, you can totally decline it.
Mention the person who tagged you.
Answer the questions from above.
Let the person you tagged know by commenting in their post.

Same wall, same dress, different person

“NEW” Series, #7 Cancer Survivor!
Praise Your Holy and Healing name, our Great Physician! You have made Crystal a cancer survivor! It’s been a long battle, but You blessed her in the fight!
Crystal, I am so happy for you! Me and God love you!!

The picture on the left was taken December 10, 2016. It was just days after I found a lump above my collarbone, but before I had any inclination that it might be cancer. The picture on the right was taken this past Sunday, January 21, 2018. This was after I beat stage 2 Hodgkins Lymphoma. It was after I went through an intense 12 chemotherapy treatments. It was after my entire world was put on pause.

When the first picture was taken, I had just moved to Virginia to start a new job. It was a job that I didn’t think I deserved because I was so new to the business. Just by reading that last sentence you can probably tell that I severely lacked confidence. I did my best to fake it, but it wasn’t unusual for me to beat myself up over one bad show for an entire…

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“NEW” Series, #6 The Entertainer Blogger Award 1.22.18

The Entertainer Blogger Award! Lord, You have given me yet ANOTHER BRAND NEW AWARD!! 🙂 You amaze me! Daze me! And make life so delightfully Cray-zay! 😉 Even You delight in giving Your people joy! And oh boy! Do I ever love this part of our story!
I always tell people in the middle of a crisis or hardship, “That’s just God keeping us entertained. He loves to keep things adventurous for us. Don’t ever tell Him you’re bored!” 😉 LOL

It also makes me think of Your word that tells us,
“Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: 
for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”
 – Hebrews 13:10 KJV

Thank you, Lovely Anita! For the nomination of The Entertainer Blogger Award! I can absolutely see why these awards first come your way over on Discovering Your Happiness! Entertaining is bringing happiness… joy… encouragement… and this you do with the love the Lord sends your way first! Even those hardships you have endured are like the great tragedies or intense dramas that either give the viewer their much needed escape, or the very resource of validation and comforting reality that they are not alone, and certainly not forgotten. Instead they find the friend with a lending ear, the much needed wisdom, the sympathetic tenderness, or the online life coach that allows one to glean from the screen. All of this from pouring your own heart out on your keyboard. And then… awards come. 🙂

Those who are grateful for your honest journey send a thank you… and a smile! I thank you for sharing your special treasures. I know I praise the Lord a lot for you because He first uses you to pour so much of that encouragement into me! It’s hard sometimes for others to remember or even know that I too struggle with anxiety and the darkness of depression, as you well know from the earlier posts in the self care challenge. It can be hard for me to be personal. So I keep my focus on keeping it all about Him.

The Lord always seems to know when to whisper in my ear, “I love your heart, and your faithful praises. But now they need to hear what I have done for you. That’s what a testimony is. Then He whispers in your ear! ❤ And I get to do my favorite thing…. give to others… the same love that God pours out on you and me!
Having said that… onto the questions and nominations! 🙂 The word entertainer easily makes me think on many of our friends! Me and God love you! ❤

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The Rules:
Thank the person who nominated you (add a link to their blog)
Add the rules, so others can follow
Answer the questions that have been asked
Nominate a handful of entertaining bloggers
Display the photo also in your blog

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Nominees:
Hayley, God uses your music to allow me to linger in His Holy presence. Exactly where I want to be! 🙂 “Know Me” is still my favorite! ❤

Frank, Your poetry can be such a playful story… quite amusing.

Anthoni, I love visiting “Dwayne’s Diner” and “All Cheerful and Rosie.” They’re so funny! But of course KEB and her brother will always be my favorites! Children usually are! ❤

Caralyn, I love just spending a day with you. There’s always something going on… and it comes with pictures. I can’t wait to see the ones on the upcoming wedding in India!

Stephen and Fionnuala, You and the family are far more entertaining than current family programs. I love reading about your genuine faith along the way. Faults and all!

Lene, I love your straight up humor, and your sharing your life in Japan with us. I loved all the pics from Grandpa’s visit. I can’t wait to see how things turn out for Joy and Liz!

Paleeza,, I appreciate your including us in your new life of marriage, while still working on finishing up your degree in Psychology, yet being vulnerable and honest enough to share your struggles with your anxiety. You have such a fun personality! Loved the sweaters!

Caz, You probably have no idea how much of an encouragement you are to me. Your honesty, your attitude, your determination despite all the challenges. Trust me. I glean! God never promised a perfect life, a peaceful life, or even what we would call a decent life, but He does promise is His presence and His love. Even perfect health could never provide what those two promises alone do! ❤ Thank you for just being you!

Elan, Your photography is stunning! Of all of the photography pages on WordPress, yours is my favorite! ❤ I love to just browse what God has gifted you!

Lize, I love the combination of your beautiful artwork and haikus!

Sayer, How patient you have been with me to constantly share such kind words despite the fact that I mistyped your site name more than once, for so long before I noticed. You never said anything or got mad! How forgiving! I love your passion for your quills, inks, papers, stories, community. Lord willing, your faith in a pen being able to improve my penmanship leaves me hopeful!

Andrea, I love keeping up with what’s going with your class, you and the hubby, and all of that wonderful wit and wisdom!

Karen! How you make me smile! You are named perfectly! Of course I am nominating you!! 🙂 I love hearing about your kiddos, and your family as well.

Paula, I love trying to read as much of your page in your language first to see how far I get. Thanks for introducing me to the translator widget. I use it for anyone visiting my page. And thank you for introducing me to the flying story. 

Joseph, Oh my what a vocabulary you have!! Table 41 is so entertaining! You’re the 1st one that I thought of with the word entertainer! I’m looking forward to Table 41 being printed to read at home with my son. He loves acting out on or cutting up with each descriptive word in a story. It will be so much fun! I wish you had it available as an audio file!

There are so many more of you! I haven’t even got to the faith based, staying in the word studying, sharing verses ones. But that’s because I do those more often… and will again! I am actually loving thanking each of you, so I will continue in future posts… without leaving homework. 😉

So… the 5 questions we will share briefly. You can either answer them also, skip, or even post below in comments as some do, picking what you would like to answer. Sorry for making this one so long. It’s FAR from entertaining, but well deserved for each one to be thanked and encouraged to know that God has gifted you, uses you, and loves you!

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The 10 Questions:
WHY DID YOU START A BLOG IN THE FIRST PLACE?
To spend some alone time talking with God (before I went public)

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE BOOK?
The Holy Bible! ❤

WHAT DO YOU DISLIKE THE MOST?
Disappointing my Jesus 😦

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FOOD AT THE MALL?
A Dairy Queen Blizzard (I love when they flip it upside down!) 🙂

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PASTIME?
Reading God’s word and listening to sermons

Congratulations on your Entertainer Blogger Award!
You make me and God smile! 🙂

“NEW” Series, #5 Awesome Blogger Award 1.19.18

 

God, You are so AWESOME!! And there are some who agree with me! I know because I try to make sure to never leave You out… to always include You… to keep You first above everyone and everything… including me…including this blog… including IN this blog… YOUR blog. In doing so, You have whispered my name into Lovely A’s ear yet again! Another NEW award! So when that award says Awesome Blogger Award, she is saying YOU are an awesome blogger! And You ARE! So You know what that makes me think of!

🙂 Awesome God by Rich Mullins

Thank you, too, In The Name of Jesus on YouTube, for making this video and for your heart in making it available for everyone! If only more people were as thoughtful of freely sharing the gifts God gives us, especially in regards to His Word and His love! ❤

Thank you, My dear Miss Lovely of Discovering Your Happiness, for nominating me for the Awesome Blogger Award! Our God is so awesome and He deserves ALL His praise! You are helping me to let Him know just how awesome we think He is, and allowing me to tell the world! And You know our God… He loves it when we share… and keep passing on the love ❤ … and happiness. 😉 That’s our God! He’s so awesome like that! ❤

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The Award Maker:
The award was created by Maggie at Dreaming of Guatemala who stated:

‘This is an award for the absolutely wonderful writers all across the blogging world. They have beautiful blogs, are kind and lovely, and always find a way to add happiness and laughter to the lives of their readers. That is what truly defines an awesome blogger.”

The Rules:

• Thank the person who nominated you
• Tag it under #awesomebloggeraward in the Reader
• Answer the questions your nominator gave you
• Nominate at least 5 awesome bloggers
• Give your nominees 10 new questions to answer
• Let your nominees know that they’ve been nominated

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My Questions:

If you could travel anywhere, where would it be?
A “World Tour” of my friends, starting in Australia 😉

What is your biggest accomplishment?
Asking Jesus to be my Savior

What is the most amazing blog you’ve ever come across?
ONE of SEVERAL amazing blogS is Song of Virginity by Lene in Japan! Her site celebrates living a life of purity for God, whether it be as a virgin or a life restored, regardless of age. I am humbled that God would allow my testimony Love of My Life – I am His Song to be added alongside others. The Love Story From the Bible is my favorite page on that site. You will be blessed if you read it.

Chocolate or Lollies?
Both 😉

What is the nicest thing you’ve done for someone?
Prayed for them!

How do you stay positive?
Praying to the Holy Spirit and praising His Holy Name! ❤

What’s the best advice anyone ever gave you?
A lady named Molly saw me kneeling at the alter, waiting for my mom who was praying there to accept Jesus. Molly came to ask me if I knew who Jesus was. I am so glad she did! I followed her advice and asked Jesus to forgive me of my sins and to come live inside my heart as my Savior! Thank you, Molly! I can’t wait until I get to heaven to thank you in person some day! I get to think on you and thank the Lord for you every time someone asks me how I met Jesus! ❤ I hope I get to watch you lay “that crown”at His feet! ❤

What’s one book you’d always recommend and why?
The Holy Bible (the King James Version is my preference, but is not the only one God can be found in). The most important message is in that book… God loves you! John 3:16 tells you why. Choose Him! Choose Life! 🙂
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.” – John 3:16

What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream?
heavenly hash 😉

What is your dream job?
To do whatever God asks of me… if that includes continuing to write how wonderfully in love with Him I am, and sharing with others what makes Him so wonderful, and how wonderfully in love HE is with THEM… Praise His Wonderful Name! ❤

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My Nominees:
Hayley of Red Letters
Lene of Song of Virginity
Hiraa of Hiraa Chaudry
Anabel of Lebana’s Journal
Abbey of An Anonymous Escape From Life
Harotian Essentials

Congratulations to the nominees! May God bless you! Please do not feel obligated to participate. If you do, no rush! Do it in your time, in your way! I just wanted you to know you and your blog are an awesome! God thinks you’re awesome too! He loves you!

Congratulations on your own awesome nomination too, Miss Lovely and Awesome A!!

Sunshine Blogger Award 1.18.18

“Rise and shine, and give God the glory, glory.
 Rise and shine, and give God the glory, glory.
 Rise and shine, and give God the glory, glory.
 Children of the Lord.”
– Rise and Shine (the Arky, Arky Song), Children’s song

“Turn your light on. Turn your light on. It’s important that you shine, shine shine.
 Turn your light on. Turn your light on. It’s important that you shine, shine shine.”
– Turn Your Light On, Children’s song

“This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.
 This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.
 This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.
 Let it shine. Let it shine. Let it shine.”
– This Little Light of Mine, lyrics by Harry Dixon Loes

How can I see the word Sunshine, especially as an award, and NOT think of these songs, Dear Lord. An award that is meant to shine light on this blog and give glory to the owner/author or the content therein. Yet it is all You! You gave me this blog, and the whispers that have created the words each time. I praise Your Holy name for shining glory on Your whispers, and giving glory that I can completely shine on You! Turning YOUR light on! I’m gonna let it shine as much as the Holy Spirit will allow! 🙂

“The sun comes up. It’s a new day dawning.
  It’s time to sing Your song again.
 Whatever may pass, and whatever lies before me.
 Let me be singing when the evening comes.”
– 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord), lyrics by Jonas Myrin / Matt Redman

And of course it brings to mind the more common song.

“You are my sunshine. You are my sunshine.
 You make me happy when skies are gray.
 You’ll never know dear how much I love you.
 Please don’t take my sunshine away.”
– You Are My Sunshine, lyrics by Jimmie Davis and Charles Mitchell

Lord, You share Your sunshine with me again through Lovely A of Discovering Your Happiness!  “Thank you, Lovely Anita, for nominating me for the Sunshine Blogger Award! I absolutely think of you with sunshine! You are my sunshine! You make me and so many others happy when skies are gray. You’ll never know how much the dear Lord has allowed you so much love through so many of us… but especially Him! ❤
Please don’t ever take it away!” ❤

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The Rules:

• Thank blogger(s) who nominated you in a blog post and link back to their blog.
• Answer the 11 questions the blogger asked you.
• Nominate 11 new blogs to receive the award and write them 11 new questions.
• List the rules and display the Sunshine Blogger Award logo in your post and/or on your blog..
  

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My Questions:

• What was your greatest failure and what did you learn from that?
  Anytime I have left God! Don’t do anything without Him!
•  Is blogging your profession or just a hobby?
  enjoyable hobby
•  How would you describe your blogging style?
  Sharing God’s whispers
• What is your greatest achievement outside of blogging?
  Asking Jesus to be my Savior ❤
• What do you do in your spare time?
  write, puzzles, read, listen to or sing hymns and gospel songs, color
• What would be your ideal working environment?
  Being wherever God wanted me to be, doing His will 🙂
• Who has impacted you most in blogging and how?
  Miss Lovely from Discovering Your Happiness is the obvious answer, if you read my blogs and comments. The Lord used her 21 Self Care Challenge to keep me motivated and active. Not only was she like a life coach, but her genuine interest in wanting to see what I post next, asking me to tag, required me learning things that now help me so much.
• How do you motivate yourself to keep the blog up and running?
  Lord willing, I follow whatever time, energy, and wording God gives.
• Sweet or Savoury?
  sweet
• Coffee or Hot Chocolate?
  Hot chocolate (I don’t even like coffee)
• Summer or Winter
  summer

My Nominees:
The Word
Becoming His Tapestry
Dreamer’s Outlet
Justified and Redeemed
Sharing in the Lord
Heart of the Journey
Sim’s Jollies and Jaunts
Not Easily Broken
Lea’s Spiritual Journey
The Showers of Blessings

10 Questions for the Nominees:
1. How are you doing?
2. How are things at work/school/home?
3. What song(s) does the word Sunshine make you think of?
4. What’s Your Favorite hymn?
5. Do you have a favorite number?
6. What color is your hair… originally? 😉 (You can share your current hair color.) lol
7. What is your favorite bible book?
8. Who is your favorite bible character?
9. What makes you excited?
10. Do you know how much God loves you? ❤ Because He does! ❤

May God bless each one of you with His favor in your life and with your blog. May you seek Him and delight in Him. Congrats on your Sunshine Blogger Award! Please don’t feel obligated to participate. If you do, no rush! Do it in your time, your way! I just wanted to shine a little light on you and your blog! Praise God!

Thank you again Miss Lovely for the nomination! Congratulations on yours! 🙂 
Me and God love you, my dear Croatian Australia sister!

Thank you again, too, my Lord and Savior! ❤ The Sunshine of my life! 🙂

“NEW” Series, #4 Brotherhood of the World Bloggers’ Award 1.18.18

How exciting and adventurous You are dear Lord! A NEW kind of blogger award… Brotherhood of the World Bloggers’ Award! And how exciting to see Lovely A of Discovering Your Happiness receive hers! You, the Great Physician, knew she could use a pick me up at a time that she has been so sick that she had to take some time away from her blog. Practicing what she teaches, she took some down time, focused on her health, and just allowed herself to de-stress. What a great example she is to her self care theme. Thank You for being with her, Lord. I pray continued healing for her, and for all the things You know she needs prayer for!

Thank you, Lovely Anita, for allowing God to use you to nominate me for the Brotherhood of the World Bloggers’ Award too!
You put a smile on my face! 🙂 Me and God love you! ❤The Rules:

 

• Thank the blogger who nominated you and post a link to his/her blog.
• List the rules of the award and post a picture of the award.
• Answer the questions from your nominator.
• Nominate 10 other bloggers and be sure to let them know.
• Write a list of questions for your nominees to answer

My Questions:

• Where in the world are you based? North Carolina (USA)
• What made you get into blogging? Journaling with God, challenges with friends
• Summer or Winter? Summer
• What makes you the happiest? God ❤
• If you had to eat one food forever, what would it be? spaghetti 🙂
• If you had one super power, what would it be? never sinning
• If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be? For everyone to know how much God loves them, and for them to love God just as much ❤
• What are some of your 2018 goals? Following God, Choosing Life, Looking Up
• Airplane holiday or Boat Cruise? Airplane holiday
• America or Europe holiday? Europe

My Nominees:
Oaken Reed
Almighty God the Beginning and the End
Blacker the Berry
Invisibly Me
Red Letters
Not Easily Broken
The Godly Chic Diaries
Wrestling with Faith – Dancing with Jesus
loshame
Moonlight Psychology

Praise the Lord for each one of you! Congratulations on your nomination for the Brotherhood of the World Bloggers’ Award! May you each continue to reach out in community and brotherhood on WordPress and around the world! God has so many children, and loves each one… including you! ❤

Thank you again and congrats to Lovely A of Discovering Your Happiness!
Me and God love you too! ❤

PS… OOPS! I forgot 10 questions for the nominees. Please feel free to answer the ones given to me above… or simply skip. Whichever you prefer! 🙂

Walking the Walk, #3 Delight Walk

“He casteth forth his ice like morsels:
who can stand before his cold?”
– Psalm 147:17 AKJV

Lord, This is how our walk was today. I was going to do walk number #3 Smell Walk, but I was absolutely distracted and excited by the beautiful ice all over the place! I thought about scents at different times, but honestly could not smell anything. But oh I was taken by Your delightful sights. So since #4 is Delight Walk,

4. Delight walk- Look out for things that delight or tickle you. You may use these as destination points for future walks. You might share these with others to enjoy, via social media. 

I have swapped them for now to share the delightful pictures You allowed me to get. So this will be Walking the Walk, #3 Delight Walk.  Only 47 more to go 🙂
You even allowed a couple of quick videos, which I’ll post at the end of this post.

Thank you! It was such a delight spending time in Your wonders! 🙂

“Out of whose womb came the ice?
and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?”
– Job 38:29 KJV

“He giveth snow like wool:
he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes.”
Psalm 147:16 KJV

For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
– Isaiah 55:10

“The earth will soon dissolve like snow,
the sun forebear to shine,
But God, who called me hear below,
Will be forever mine.”
Amazing Grace – hymn lyrics by John Newton

For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth;
likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength.
– Job 37:6 KJV

“His countenance was like lightning,
and his raiment white as snow.”
– Matthew 28:4 KJV

“His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow;
and his eyes were as a flame of fire.”
– Revelation 1:14 KJV

“By the breath of God frost is given:
and the breadth of the waters is straitened.”
– Job 37:10 KJV

Thank You for such a wonderful day with You, Oh Lord.
You are magnificent! ❤ I love You! ❤

“NEW” Series, #3 Graduating

Lord, You have made me a new graduate! 🙂 Praise Your Holy name! You helped me to complete the Diabetes Prevention Class that my regular doctor referred me for last year.

 

It was a new program through our local hospital. Our group was literally the first class. We were given very nice scales, a pedometer, food journals, and a large binder with paperwork for the classes we had once a month.

 

 

Most importantly and most valuable, we were given a personal dietitian coach that saw us on scheduled appointments, scheduled phone calls,  and made us welcome to call them any time. “Lacey” was my coach. She showed compassion in sharing her advice, mercy in rearranging phone calls, and patience in listening to me ramble on. God definitely made her the most valuable encouragement from this program.

“Thank you, “Lacey!” I am grateful to God for you! Praying for you! God loves you!”

You helped me to attend each class! This can be challenging with four of us sharing a vehicle, and my unreliable health. You allowed me to learn more on food labels, food journals, better eating habits, better food choices, realistic goals, my liquid intake, and even not being so hard on myself. During this program, You helped our whole family develop better eating habits and better choices. And I still have my binder to refer to for the information that we learned along the way.

 

 

Along the way, I learned my skipping breakfast and sometimes lunch too was not helping my body at all. It was challenging getting used to eating so early, especially since I don’t really like most breakfast foods. The majority of it is greasy. Cereal was how I began my day. I learned to pay better attention to a menu when we had to eat out. I learned you can order an individual egg by itself… and did. My most eye opening information for myself was learning that I do not drink enough liquid. Oh yeah, I was drinking more water than anything else, but whatever I drank I nursed it.

Lastly is that piece of paper…..

This piece of paper is validation that I do care about my health… that I am dedicated to working hard on preventing my body from developing diabetes. My doctors can know that I am not just laying around. While I would love to show it to each of my doctors, it is enough for me to know for myself that I actually finished something… by following You, and trusting you with what seemed pointless.

❤ THANK YOU, LORD! MY GREAT PHYSICIAN! ❤

“NEW” Series, #2 Music Playlist

How lovely You are, Lord, to give us such delights as music! You allowed music through fellow believers, and even dear friends. Coming into Christmas You already had friends sharing music and videos that became favorites. This is new in many ways because for quite a few years now music has just been… music. Even if I happened to love or enjoy something, it was just that moment. I didn’t have the time or desire to feel anything to take with me.  But You have renewed a joy and a comfort in music.

How perfect is the message in Hayley’s song “Called By Love” by Red Letters. You used a dear friend to remind me that when the devil tries to tell me I have no right to listen to or sing with Your music that I am called by love to worship You. I need to worship You to keep my strength up against the one who hates me to have any… especially in You!

You used my dear friend Aney to introduce me to “The True Love of God” by The Church of Almighty God to remind me the “It’s [Your] tender words that water and nourish me to grow up. It’s [Your] stern words that encourage me to stand up again.” That is the truth of Your love. The music lifts my spirit with its light beat.

You surprised me with a new favorite video “You Are More” by Tenth Avenue North. You used Life With Jesus to introduce me to this reminder that I am more than the choices that I have made because I have been remade. It’s not about what I have done, but about what You have done for me. It’s not about how I feel, but what You felt to forgive me, and how You felt to make me loved.

“All The Way in Your Company” by The Church of Almighty God was so cute, and so me and You. The video story and message is a theme song for us. It is a great theme song for our Walking the Walk journey! I would love to be able to run, but as long as I am walking with You, whether on the Parkway, the ball field, running errands, or the days that will leave me in my bed. If I am with You, I am exactly where I need to be!

You used Hayley again to remind me with “He Has Freed Us” by RedLetters that [You] will carry us through every trial in life, that [Your] love is perfect, and [Your] ways are right. [You] have freed us.

And oh how You continue to amaze me through Hayley even more! When she told me of her song “I Choose Life” by RedLetters after she read my post Choose Life as a theme for this year, I was so excitedly in awe of You! You had used Deuteronomy 30:19-20 to inspire her, myself, and so many others at the same time. I will ever be so grateful for Your bringing Hayley into my life, and for allowing me to hear Caralyn’s podcast on A Jew & A Gentile Walk Into a Bar… Mitzvah. I am eagerly awaiting Hayley’s CD. 🙂

I can’t remember how You brought me to “Sleeping At Last” by Saturn. It’s not even Christian music. But You had me pay attention to the message. “How rare and beautiful it truly is that we exist.” It was You and me again… more You speaking to me. So I listen… again and again… and again. ❤

So then You give me “Old Church Choir” by Zach Williams. I LOVE this song. You help me get to a place where I put aside all the noise and voices in my head, and just enjoy You! You let me know that when I do that…“There ain’t nothing gonna steal my joy!” Praise Your Holy name! This is definitely a motivating and strengthening song, all wrapped up in a delightful joy! ❤

Lastly, You used Kristi Ann to just steal my heart again. “Still” by Hillary Scott & The Scott Family. How do I never stop falling in love with You!! You know that all I need is to be still and know that You are parting waters, and moving mountains that I don’t even see. All You need is for me to be still. ❤

So this is the playlist You have given me. I love that You think of me, and whisper my name into someone’s ear. I am grateful You give us music. Thank You for renewing music for me! Thank You for reminding me of the weapon it is against the very one who hates me spending that quality time with You. I look forward to whatever You bring my way. As long as You are there… I’m ready.

“Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.” – Psalm 33:3

“And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.” – Psalm 40:3 

Liebster Award 1.6.18

A new year, a new day, and a new nomination! God, you are so delightfully surprising! 🙂 Thank you for whispering my name into the ear of Unbreakable Yet Fragile. She is always an encouraging spirit, always reminding me I am daughter of the King! 🙂 You have gifted her with such a strong voice, and a strong will. Thank you for bringing her into my life. May I somehow be a blessing to her as she is to me so often. Bless her Lord.*RULES*
1. Thank the blogger who nominated you and link their blog in your post. Share a few thoughts about their blog and help to promote them. Support other bloggers!!
2. Display the award on your blog. You can display in a post or as a widget.
3. Who’s your favorite blogger? Write a short paragraph about your favorite blog and leave a link for others to check them out.
4. Tell your readers 10 random facts about you – they can be anything you want!
5. Nominate 5-11 other bloggers
6. Make sure to link these rules in your Liebster Award post.

My Favorite Blogger
That’s hard because the Lord has blessed me with many wonderful bloggers who are dear friends I try to keep up with reading. The upside to a rich community is fellowship and support. The downside is so many to keep up with and possibly letting someone down, especially when I must pick one. In THIS moment, the Lord blesses me often with Hayley of RedLetters and her music. The Lord is constantly whispering things to us in private, and confirms openly His message to us, marvelously surprising us both. Her song I Choose Life is a perfect example, as at the same time God has given me Choose Life to live by. Both of us were being inspired by Deuteronomy 30:19.

10 Random Facts About Me
1. I’m a Tar Heel fan.
2. I love puzzles.
3. I don’t keep up with my Twitter.
4. I wish I could fly (literally me with wings soaring in the air).
5. I have never flown before.
6. I’ve never been out of the country.
7. I do not live in the city.
8. I love fun facts.
9. I love witty puns.
10. I love my son’s cartoons that he draws on Inner Man Theatre. My favorite is All Cheerful and Rosie. I don’t see how he draws all of that on a computer, but he does! My boss lady (in a computer lab) use to spend time teaching him computer graphics when he was 4 years old.

What is the propose of your blog?
To follow the Lord wherever He leads. Glory to His name.

How in touch are you with your surroundings?
very

What state you reside in?
North Carolina in the United States

What is your favorite season?
Spring

What movie is your all time favorite?
Jesus of Nazareth

Which color is your favorite?
Lavender

How often do you read books?
here and there, as God leads

Do you have children?
yes… a grown son

Are you left-handed or right-handed?
ambidextrous, dominate with right

What are your life goals?
To live, serve, please, follow, trust and the Love of my life… Jesus Christ! ❤

My Nominees:
Team Jesus
Georgia’s Recovery
Pennies for Dreams
Tomorrow Girl
Becoming His Tapestry
Sup Halle
December Rose

Praise the Lord and Congratulations to the Nominees! May God bless you each one. Please don’t feel rushed or obligated to participate. The nomination is meant to be a blessing, not a burden. I just wanted you to know you and your blog are appreciated, and to let others know about your blog! God loves you!

Thank you again, Unbreakable Yet Fragile for nominating me!! And congratulations on your Liebster Award! May the Lord bless you!!

Walking the Walk, #2 Texture Walk

Good early morning, Lord. We are moving on to our 2nd walk of 50. The Texture walk. As I said  in Walking the Walk, #1 Color Walk, I had at first put together pictures at home representing our walk in wanting to get started on the 50 Walks and keeping reliable for the accountability. Yet I also did not want to give up or rush away 50 new quality walks with you, so I waited. Here are the comparisons of the two… and the end result of what you gave me on this walk together on texture.

napkins

puzzles, compo, bookmarker,receipt

newspaper puzzles

bookmarker, compo flyer puzzle

The first picture shows napkins. The second is a variety of papers. I can’t help but think of my friend Sayer over at the Oaken Reed, as he is genius and passionate at knowing all about paper. 😉 I would grossly mess up detailing them as he could. The third shows newspaper puzzles. (Can anyone tell I love puzzles? ❤ ) The fourth picture shows more clearly the bookmarker, the compo, newspaper puzzles, the magazine puzzle, and the receipt. I was going to include a picture of a paper towel, and a box of tissue, but before I got a chance to put it together, you allowed me to snap the pictures below.

The first and last picture alone have so much texture difference in the different types of leaves and in the fact that some are dead, some are dying, and some are thriving. Together they all make sure a beautiful picture. Even that sharp yellow is because the leaf has lost so much life. Death… debris… drab… is so sad and depressing if I stop to look or think on any particular one too long, but if I choose to see it as a whole… creating God’s own mulch… is has beauty… has life… has purpose. For some strange, it makes me think on Ecclesiastes 12:7.

Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was:
and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
– Ecclesiastes 12:7 KJV

 

Walking the Walk, #1 Color Walk

Ok, Lord. Here we go. Just you and me… on these 50 Walks of Lovely A’s Walking the Walk challenge that she posted on her Discovering Your Happiness. I am looking forward to each new walk. That is why I waited patiently for you to provide the Color Walk and the Texture Walk (though I was so eager to begin). The day I tried to begin I only came across that picture at lymphedema therapy on the wall, and that I posted on “NEW” Series, # 1 Walking the Walk. I even corrected the numbers on the title to correlate with Walking the Walk, #1 Color Walk.Everyone seem to love it so. You surely blessed them as you blessed me when I saw how beautiful those rich colors were. You brought my camera to mind, and I snapped the picture. But I didn’t want to give up a quality walk with you out there in your world, and the challenge did include making a collage.

1. Colour walk – Bring a camera/phone look for the brightest colors, make a photo collage of your collection.

The first day that you provided out, you allowed me to think about snapping a picture after my doctor appointment. Just before I got into the car I saw an abundance of leaves of different kinds. The different colors got my attention, but it was texture that you brought to mind (so those pictures will be in Walking the Walk, #2 Texture Walk). As I continued my busy day, I found the only moment I was going to have with you was while putting something on my very empty stomach. And then I noticed… colors in my meal. The salad alone was so rich in color… and very tasty! 🙂

garden salad

chili

totilla chips

water

frosty

library book

I was able to collect and create my first collage. No it was not flowers, or leaves, or the beautiful scenic Blue Ridge Parkway where I had hoped to spend time with you. Though that is my favorite spot, it was closed because of ice. It was not by a lake or anything outdoorsy. But it was you… whispering in my ear… to pay attention to the blessings you were providing… and that the walk was about you and me… with YOU leading… not me.

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart;
and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him,
and he shall direct thy paths”
 – Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV

The picture you had provided at lymphedema therapy was enough to you. It was the perfect example of how often I wish to walk with you and serve with you, but just as often feel like I fail you because my health leaves me in a bed. What kind of walk, or testimony, or life is that to give back to you? It has been a long hard journey to find peace in my walk, my testimony, and my life being YOURS. There are others who cannot get outside, some not even out of there bed. And there will still be days that put me back in mine. Where you are… is where my heart walks. And you tell me… where I am, there you walk with me.

“And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.”
– In the Garden, hymn lyrics by C. Austin Miles

 

Trusting the Authority You Obey

Rereading thru David’s bloody times… I feel for those ordered to kill or those honestly believed to be honorable by obeying. Sometimes they were right and rewarded for it… sometimes NOT and ‘rewarded’ for it as well. Makes me think of our soldiers, policemen, and people trying to obey authority, as is biblical to do.

“Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers.
For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God:
and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil.
Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power?
do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
for he is the minister of God to thee for good.
But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain:
for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
For for this cause pay ye tribute also:
for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due;
custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.”
– Romans 13:1-7 AKJV

“When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice:
but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.”
– Proverbs 29:2 AKJV

Even Jesus submitted to authority, whether it was as a child submitting to the authority of his parents, or as an innocent man wrongly convicted, sentenced, and executed by the hands given the authority to carry out the unjustified punishment. We must be careful to obey God’s voice so that whether we are blessed to raise our swords in victory, or our lives are placed into the hands of men with authority, we will have the peace of mind to know it is God’s authority in which we have trusted, and will be justly rewarded.

“And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them:
but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.
And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.”
– Luke 2:51-52 AKJV

“Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me?
knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?
Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me,
except it were given thee from above:
therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.”
– John 19:10-11 AKJV

“But without faith it is impossible to please him:
for he that cometh to God must believe that he is,
and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
– Hebrews 1:6 AKJV

 

“NEW” Series, #1 Walking the Walk

“and thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying,
This is the way, walk ye in it,
when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.”
 – Isaiah 30:21 KJV

Ok, Lord. It’s time to begin our new journey of walking through this new year. You had me to choose this path that You allowed Lovely A of Discovering Your Happiness to create in her post Walking the Walk. As she says, “Walking is such a great thing for the mind but I also think walking for a purpose is a good idea.” And that’s exactly what this walk is all about… an intentional walk following You wherever You lead for the purpose of growing closer to You every step of the way, knowing that in each step You have a purpose for me in that particular walk. I am eager to join You in each walk.

There are 50 different walks to look forward to enjoying with You. The first one Colour Walk has me using a camera to capture some colors and making a photo collage. I have been mindful of this, but with the frigid temps and the problems that I mentioned in “NEW” Series #1, Introduction, the best that I could do was this photo hanging on the wall at lymphedema therapy.

My Alcatel smartphone camera did not do a good job of holding the rich colors, but I will have to learn to make it work, or know why it will not. This will have to do until You allow me that walk where You have rich colors waiting on me, Lovely A, and all those who will witness the walk with us, as they journey alongside.

As You assign and provide each walk… I will walk, photograph, note, color, or whatever is on the list, and will be sure to blog about it along our Walking the Walk journey. Thank You for giving me yet another special way to spend time with Lovely Anita, and Lord willing, encourage her in her own walk with You. I know You love her so much! Thank You for using her 21 Days Self Care Challenge last year to teach me, encourage me, motivate me, and help me to really be more mindful of this temple You have given me. Bless her Lord for every time You used her. ❤

“NEW” Series, Introduction

“Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it?
I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.”
 – Isaiah 43:19 KJV

Lord, here we are… finally getting around to this “NEW” series You whispered into my ear in December to begin in January. Not necessarily to celebrate a New Year or as a resolution. But to give glory to You for new things… new blessings that You have sent my way… and will be sending yet. I have so much to thank You for… including this new year of life. Thank You for helping me to Choose Life and to continue to Look Up. ❤

Just coming into this week was challenging. On New Year’s Eve, unpredicted layers of black ice froze the roads over so quickly that the roads looked normal and clear. Though cars and people were unable to drive or walk without accidents, the radar was showing nothing. Two tractor trailers jackknifed making it 7 hours before my brother, brother-in-law, and family friend got off the local interstate. During that time, when the car idled the heat did not work. After getting off and getting gas, the car wouldn’t go into gear from idling in the cold so long. It took another 4 or 5 hours to get a tow and home.

During that time, our heat went out. We have propane heat, and a wood stove for back up, but the furnace stopped and we ran out of wood and coal. It took the week to get the furnace working, the ice out of the gas tank regulator, some wood and coal for the stove, as well as get the hot water back. So many souls You sent. And that stranger that said, “It’s a God thing. Don’t ask questions.” May You bless each one so richly!

During this whole time, You had so many WordPress friends praying and sending encouraging messages when they didn’t even know what was going on. How much their prayers were needed… and heard… and answered! Thank You for each one!

So what has the new year brought so far? New challenges, of course! Anyone who thinks they will be without struggles, falls, challenges (of a negative nature), or no problems at all are setting themselves up for that inevitable discouragement that follows an unrealistic outlook. But it also brought new reasons to pray, to exercise faith, to witness to strangers, to meet new fellow believers, to see that there are still people who do good.

Thank You for fixing the furnace, hot water heater, gas regulator, for wood and coal, names of reliable sources for the future, new friends, and a renewed sense of family seeing things through together. Thank You for safety. Thank You for the driver who towed family off the roads. I have so many praises to give You that I’m sure I’ll fail to remember them all. Likewise, I have many people to pray over. But I can trust You with each prayer and praise. Your answered prayers and mercies are new every morning.

I also trust You to help me remember those things that You had laid on my heart to include in this “NEW” Series. It’s not to be just January. Your newness in our lives is ongoing. Whenever You lead, I will thank and praise. So let’s get started because as the song says, “I’ve got so much to thank [You] for.” ❤