Breathing With Friends, Week 5 Our Last Night

Whew, Lord! This was the closest call yet! I arrived with just enough time for “Catching My Breath“ before getting out of the car! I so needed that moment to Breathe! Even one breath can make all the difference in the world! Tonight was Breathing With Friends, Week 5 Our Last Night, so I really did not want to miss out! Thank you for helping me make it with a few minutes to spare!

I always cherish the fellowship time, and those few minutes gave me enough time to realize even more changes in the environment. (In case I did not note before, this church began some renovations while we were doing this Breathe Ladies Bible Study and it keeps progressing!) I get signed in and found a seat. I see Keitha is involved in conversation, so I have to wait for my Keitha hug (But I did get it! 🙂 ) Yay! for just as I am getting my seat Sarah comes in and sits right across from me. We catch up a bit. Her baby nephew is still in the NICU, but is showing some improvement! Praise God! We get snacks while Keitha greets us, does door prizes, and hands out a paper of an upcoming event.

Helping friends and good food! ❤
Lord willing! 🙂

Then we got into homework discussions.
Yes, I did mine! 🙂I can’t tell you how needed it was, but admittedly very challenging. The moment we got into looking back to Recall what we used to be in bondage to, to remember what God led us out of whatever our own personal Egypt/slavery was, it became a personal challenge for sure. Sometimes God has us to put our past behind us, but sometimes He asks us… tells us… to recall what He has brought us through already. When it feels so fresh (like it did this time), it can be very troubling. But that is exactly why God has us recall…
to remember we’re not there any more!The enemy wants to convince us that some things will never change, that WE will never change, especially when everything SEEMS to say the same thing. But God reminds that Satan is just another Pharaoh that does not want to let God’s people go. If He can bind us up with false guilt, he will. But God is there to remind us that He has cast that old Pharaoh and his army into the sea of lies, and that we are FREE from those days/habits/burdens/Pharaohs/slavery mentality. Yes we are still stuck in a fleshly body and caught in a spiritual warfare, but we are NOT the ignorant slaves we once were.
We are His! Bought and paid for! Free!

We then take our chairs with us (because the pews have been removed for the new carpet), and watch our final Priscilla video, Breathe, Week 5, Discussion Groups. We have our discussions and testimonies, and even get a couple of group pics.

Keitha taking a picture!

Keitha in the picture! 🙂
Kristy taking the picture!

I’m so going to miss these ladies! This bible study! And most certainly Keitha and Sarah! At least just until the next study! Lord willing! 😉 I was blessed to get my Keitha hug! My Sarah hug! And several hugs! But I missed out on getting another hug from Stephanie! 😦 She has so far to travel, is in school, and it’s been VERY snowy! But I trust the Lord to provide that hug sometime in the future! 🙂

So many of you have been reading, sharing, and tagging this series, so here is a recap outlining each one. They were from a ladies bible study with friends who were using Priscilla Shirer’s Breathe: Making Room for Sabbath. Please know that I have NOT forgotten the 30 Day De-Clutter Challenge, nor the 14% Challenge, and WILL blog on them. I hope to even do an afterthought for each week of the study we had, focusing more on the material, and what God gave me along this journey. I will add them below as I add each post.

Catching My Breath
Breathing With Friends, Week 1 The Freedom of the Sabbath
Breathing With Friends, Week 2 Stops Along the Sabbath Journey
Breathing With Friends, Week 3 Double-Portion Friday
Breathing With Friends, Week 4 Coming Into Focus
Breathing With Friends, Week 5 Our Last Night

Thank you for such love and support. May God help you each one to stop, pause, rest, and catch your breath as you take time to breathe with Him! ❤

❤ God loves you! ❤

How to Handle Sexual Desires As a Single Christian Woman

I am so grateful for the encouragement of friend and fellow Christian single who is also set aside for Christ! May Christina’s words encourage you just as much! Christ is worth the wait! ❤

Life after cancer

An update for all of you who help me pray for my friend Crystal! May God bless each who continues to help me pray for her! ❤

This picture was taken shortly after I returned to work. At this point, my life felt amazing. I had a coworker take this photo because I couldn’t believe I finally had my own desk. Who gets excited over that? Someone who just beat cancer, I guess. Everything was amazing during those first few weeks of my new “normal” but eventually that feeling wore off and I realized there’s a lot more to this new life of mine. Since May 2017, I couldn’t wait to get to this point, yet here I am feeling so lost and confused.

Life after cancer is so much harder than I ever imagined it to be.

Everything about cancer is awful from before the diagnosis, throughout treatment, and apparently even after it’s all over. Life after cancer was supposed to be amazing. I had a new appreciation for everything and a boost of confidence that would…

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Sunshine Blogger Award 3.15.18

Basking within a sun filled vision that warms my heart with a love that I have never known quite so strongly, I feel Your presence, and sense just how abundant Your gifts are! That is how You touch my heart with this Sunshine Blogger Award nomination through Your incredibly passionate BibleBloggerGirl! Such a bright spirit, sharing so much of You!Thank you, sweet Bible Blogger Girl, for thinking of me with the nomination of the Sunshine Blogger Award! It’s so nice to come visiting your page Teen, Meet God and read your love for God all over the page. That’s how I came across this nomination. I came to congratulate you, and found your act of thoughtfulness! An act of kindness that will allow me to share with others! Thank you! Keeping you in prayer as often as God allows! Me and God love you! ❤

 

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Sunshine Blogger Award Rules:
-Thank the blogger who nominated you.
-Answer the 11 questions asked.
-Nominate 11 other bloggers and ask them 11 new questions.
-List the rules and include the Sunshine Blogger Award logo in your post.

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Questions From Bible Blogger Girl For Me:

What do you love about where you live? The mountains ❤

Who is your best friend? My Savior! ❤

What is your testimony? Jesus saved me from a world of filth! ❤

Why did you start a blog? at first to talk privately with God

What is your daily routine? Keep following God

Are you an animal person? Nope! I’m pure human! 😉 Jk. No pets.

What is your favorite color? lavendar

Who is your favorite band/artist? Red Letters ❤

Who has been a big blessing in your life? my son ❤

Can you play an instrument? Not really
If not, what would you like to learn? piano

Tell of an experience in which God spoke to you and taught you something.
When my son was 6 months old, he continuously put his hands in ash trays and  try to touch hot stoves. I began to spank his little hands in fear of his getting hurt. It was hard to do, especially since my family would tell me I was so cruel to him… that he was too young to understand. I kept trusting God so that I could keep him from getting burned. To my surprise he started crying and coming directly to me when I would do this, wanting a hug. And then he would say, “No…” referring to what he had just had his hands into. God has to do the same for us. 

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My Nominees:
Red Letters
Discovering Your Happiness
Life With An Illness
Yarn and Pencil
Tomorrow Girl
Cures for Health
As He Is… So Are We
Coffee, Crime, and a whole I
Beauty Beyond Bones
PS Its Peri
Something to Stu Over

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11 Questions for the Nominees:
1. Do you know God loves you?
2. What was your last post about?
3. tea or water?
4. Soup or chili?
5. Where in the world do you live?
6. Do you have a favorite song?
7. DO you have a favorite movie?
8. What is your favorite flower?
9. DO you have a nickname?
10. How old were you when you met God?
11. Do you have a pooch?

Congrats to the Nominees! Enjoy your award! If you post, let me know!

Have a blessed day in the Lord! ❤ God loves you!

The Versatile Blogger Award 3.5.18

Praise, You, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! You have thought of me yet again by whispering into the ear of my dear Malaysian-Chinese sister who was born and raised in Australia! Abbey is such a sweet heart, and a very talented and passionate poet! From one poet to another, I am so blessed to call her friend… as well as to drop by her blog An Anonymous Escape From Life and read her writings! I love her picture on her About page with the smilie face! It’s so cute! And so her!
Thank You, Lord, for blessing me with her friendship!Thank you, dearest Abbey, for thinking of me, and allowing God to pour His love out on me through nominating me for The Versatile Blogger Award! I am so glad we are family in Christ! Keep up the beautiful poetry! I’ll be sure to drop by and send a little of God’s love your way! 🙂
Congrats on your own Versatile Blogger Award! Thanks for allowing me to share a little more of God’s love with others! ❤

 

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VERSATILE BLOGGER AWARD RULES:

1. Thank the blogger who nominated you and share their link.
2. Nominate blogs that you have recently discovered or follow lately.
3. Inform them about their nominations.
4. Reveal 7 facts about yourself that your readers may not know.

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My Nominees:
Defining Yellow
Brooke Fuller
Elleguyence
Life Love and Littles
Read Between the Lyme
Not Easily Broken
Teen, Meet God
The Thoughtful Brain

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7 Facts About Myself:
1. I love sharing God’s love with others! ❤
2. I love God’s hymns! ❤
3. God is so important to me! ❤
4. I love how God can be so personal! ❤
5. I met Jesus when I was 8 years old! ❤
6. God gave me my own little pair of arms once! ❤
7. I love sharing God’s word!
“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 KJV

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Congratulations to the nominees on your Versatile Blogger Award. Please do not feel obligated to participate, but if you do.. no rush! Do in your way, your time!
God loves you! ❤

Breathing With Friends, Week 4

Dear, Lord! Dear, Lord! Dear, Lord! I did NOT think I was going to make it this week! Besides being in tremendous pain for several days, even taking a few steps backwards a little bit in regards to difficulty walking, I have simply had a very challenging week… physically, mentally, and spiritually. Praise Your Holy name that You were encouraging me to Breathe, or I would have never made it! So now here we are for

Breathe Ladies Bible Study, Week 4... Coming Into Focus!

Tonight as I enter the church, I see that the area where we have been having snacks and discussions has no tables. There is some renovation going on, so we pass a snack table on the way into the chapel, grabbing our badges just inside the door, and find a place to sit. Yay! for on the way in I get a Keitha hug and a Missy hug! I haven’t seen Missy in awhile! Eventually, Kristy, Missy, and my new Sister in Christ (Ellen) are sitting in front of me, and Sarah beside me! We fellowship for a few minutes before saying a blessing over snacks, and go get some!

I used this moment to go to the ladies room first and realize…
I finally have my camera AND my badge at the same time!!
So I kindly allow the beautiful flowers to hold it for me while I snap! 😉
The caption underneath my name reads:
Making Room For Sabbath

Confession time: I didn’t get ANY of my homework read until just before class, sitting out in the car, and I still had a page to go. Just last week I was going to get my post for Breathing With Friends, Week 3 posted, and remark that I am surprised to be so actively speaking this time around because in past classes I have had a lot going on and simply needed God and HIS opinion, not mine. I was even going to say that I hope I am not annoying Keitha, Sarah, and the ladies with being so vocal. And then the week happened!

For one thing, my brother-in-law, who is in palliative care ended up back in the hospital pretty bad off. My brother, who is his caretaker, was extremely concerned and stressed out. My spine was still struggling to mend from standing so long last week. And even though one of my therapies was doing so well that I have been discharged, I still have some issues in other therapy areas. Home life had some challenges. And speaking of challenges… decluttering wasn’t going quite as well (or quick) as I had hoped. Most of the week, I struggled to stay awake! No joke! But you know what… I was STILL doing my homework and it was paying off when so desperately needed.
1. I was taking time to Breathe! Which led me to falling asleep a lot! 😉
2. I was saying No! Which allowed me to breathe! 🙂
3. I was saying Enough Is Enough! Which allowed healthy choices! ❤
❤ HOMEWORK WELL DONE! LOVED ME SOME DOUBLE PORTION! ❤

Now the Lord has us… Coming Into Focus, So we watch Priscilla’s video.
We were given the week’s assignment to
1. recall what God has accomplished on your behalf.
2. Told that a Rhema word is:
when the Holy Spirit uses a General message and applies it Specifically to your life.
**Hello! When has God NOT been using a general message to apply it specifically to my life! If we pay attention, God WILL speak! His Holy Spirit is whispering clearly to us every moment! He’s so worth listening to! ❤ Keep whispering God! ❤ **
3. Take The 14% Challenge!
A. Take 14 Minutes Every Day this week for God! No distractions!
B. Take 14 Inches Twice a Week to make space for God!

I praise His Holy Name that He gave me my 14 Minutes today that belonged to Him!
You guessed it… a post to follow for each Day and Space given to my God! ❤
Day One was so like Him! Would you expect anything else! ❤

My personal challenge for the week will be…
Recall What God has accomplished on my behalf…
because He has spoken specifically on what…. and it’s very personal.
We all have those. 😉
Sorry to be so silent on you this week, ladies!

After discussing the video and the challenge, we circle up for prayers, updates, and praises. Oh… and there were door prizes! 😉 I love seeing people being gifted with surprises! ❤ God is so good and generous!

Breathing With Friends, Week 3

How exciting, Lord, to have some snow blowing! Yet at the same time I was praying it wouldn’t stick! I so wanted to make it to this Breathe Ladies Bible Study for Week 3, Double-Portion Friday.Thank You for helping me make it safely. I pray for all of the ladies unable to attend. I didn’t get any pictures. I was doing good just to get here, and I am always so thankful when I get a moment to just sit here with You as I look back over the week in my book. I have this tendency of writing my homework notes until suddenly I am engrossed and/or convicted to where I cannot answer on paper. The convictions are too personal.

As I am sitting in the car, it’s beautiful, windy, and warm in the sun. However, as soon as I open the door to get out.. Brrrrr! It’s fiercely windy and extremely cold! It was good to get inside, make a quick trip to the ladies room, grab my badge (maybe a photo next week, sorry), and sign in. I take Keitha some goodies to share (because I did my 30 Day De-Clutter Challenge) as some of her door prizes! 😉 The Lord blesses me in return with a Keitha hug! ❤

I go sit at the table with Jackie, Kristy, and Keitha. They are so funny. Then I meet a new sister in Christ, as Lisa sits down beside me. She has forgotten her book, but I tell her I will share. Then Sarah arrives! She sits across the table from me. We will be missing our dear Stephanie tonight.

We all go get snacks. Keitha goes over our answers from the week… and I FORGOT TO SHARE WITH LISA UNTIL THE LAST PAGE OR TWO! She was so merciful about it! Honestly, I was afraid for anyone to see my answers, and then my blank pages to assume I did not do the rest of my homework. And I REALLY DID NOT want to mention them out loud. But my fear of being vulnerable is causing me to accidentally forget that I promised to share my book!

It’s time to go and watch Priscilla’s video:
Week 3, Double-Portion Friday

There is a question presented to make us think on something that we have become so overwhelmed with that we can no longer enjoy, something that God has given us because it is good, yet for whatever reasons we are no longer able to find happiness it in. We may even dread it, simply because we have complicated it or neglected the blessing it was meant to be…. just like the Sabbath has become for the majority of us because we have long strayed from the simple gift of rest… to stop… to pause… to cease… and breathe!

We are given three points to take with us through the week.
1.Resist the urge to CONTINUE in the path or pattern we have created.
2. Remember what you USED TO BE when God came for us and freed us.
3. Refuse to OVERDO any more!
It’s okay to say NO! Enough is Enough!

Afterwards, we discuss the video and the points, and repeat together…

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

We then gather in a circle to do prayer requests, as well as get updates on some from before, and praises! Before we finish, Keitha has asked us as we starting praying to listen to a song as we do. We are to think on the words with our eyes closed.

What A Beautiful Name by Hillsong Worship

What a great way to finish up the night. The song helps me to bear standing, as I am in excruciating pain in my back. I am reminded of how much God has allowed in my healing. I may still struggle and seem to go back to square one sometimes, but I am at least able to stand for a little bit before paying for it. I am grateful that I am able to stand with the ladies and pray. Just months back, I would have had to sit while the rest prayed. I struggle to walk to the car afterwards, and it is absolutely freezing, making it worse on my spine, but I am so encouraged! Thank You, God, for helping me to be here, to take part, and to stand with the rest of the ladies as we ALL experienced together listening to this song with our eyes closed while joined hand in hand!

Praise Your Holy and Beautiful name! 

YOU HAVE NO RIVAL!! ❤
YOURS IS THE GLORY! ❤

Mystery Blogger Award 3.1.18

“And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables”
– Mark 4:11 KJV

“But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory.”
– 1 Corinthians 2:7 KJV

“Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed.”
– 1 Corinthians 15:51 KJV

“Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself.”
– Ephesians 1:9 KJV

These are just a few of the magnificent and mysterious things You share with us in Your Holy Word! I am so grateful to be “within” the fold! ❤
Thank You for the whispers that You allow me to speak of You, and to hear You in my dreams! Those are some of my favorites! When only You have access to me! ❤
Whether I sleep or I change, I am grateful to know I will be with You! ❤
Your will can have such a mystery to us, but You are good and full of pleasure for us and in us. You have a purpose for everything You do… including us! ❤

THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING LOVELY A TO NOMINATE ME FOR THIS MYSTERY BLOGGER AWARD! MAY IT GLORIFY YOUR NAME IN EVERY MYSTERIOUS WAY POSSIBLE, AND EVERY WAY THAT BRINGS HONOR TO YOUR MAJESTIC NAME! ❤

 

Thank you, Lovely Anita for nominating me for The Mystery Blogger Award! It is a mystery to me how He makes friends all around the world for me! But it’s wonderful! It won’t be long until Discovering Your Happiness hits the big 100,000! And God will be with you every step of the way! Congrats on your Mystery Blogger Award!

What is the “Mystery Blogger Award” ?

It’s an award for amazing bloggers with ingenious posts. Their blog not only captivates; it inspires and motivates. They are one of the best out there, and they deserve every recognition they get. This award is also for bloggers who find fun and inspiration in blogging, and they do it with so much love and passion.

Rules

• Put the award logo/image on your blog.
• List the rules.
• Thank whoever nominated you and provide a link to their blog.
• Answer the questions given to you.
• Tell your readers 3 things about yourself.
• You have to nominate 10 – 20 people.
• Notify your nominees by commenting on their blog.
• Ask your nominees any 5 questions of your choice; with one weird or funny question (specify).
• Share a link to your best post(s)

 

3 Things About Myself:
1. I met Jesus when I was 8 years old! ❤
2. I’ve been baptized twice, but once was enough!
(Enough if Enough, Keitha! Sarah! Stephanie! Kristy!, Jackie! Lisa! Priscilla! 😉 Enough if Enough!)
3. I am blessed to be a ladies bible study the Lord led me to. I am sad that there are only 2 weeks left, but praise God for those 2 weeks! 🙂

My Questions from Lovely A for Me:

• What is your routine for a rainy day? stay in
• Sweet or Savory? savory
• How do you de-stress? pray
• What is your all time favorite movie? Jesus of Nazareth
• What is your favorite season & why? Spring because the long hours of abundant sunshine and warmth arrive, as well as the beautiful scenery!

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NOMINEES:
Giggles & Tales
Sim’s Jollies & Jaunts
A Better Man
My Thoughts Exactly
Elleguyence
Yarn and Pencil

My Questions for my Nominees:
1.What has God used to put a smile on your face today?
2. Do you dance?
3. Do you sing our loud to yourself.
4. Where in the world do you live?
5. What color are your eyes?

Congratulations to each of you on your Mystery Blogger Award!
Please don’t feel obligated to participate If you do, no rush!

The Versatile Blogger Award 2.28.18

Versatile… definitely describes Your many ways of loving me through others! Here You are again amazing me with the kindness of our Lovely Anita of Discovering Your Happiness, as she has nominated me for The Versatile Blogger Award! 🙂 How delightfully encouraging to watch You working in her life, and in her blog. I look forward to each new thing You are doing through both!Thank you, Lovely A, for thinking of me
with the nomination for The Versatile Blogger Award!
Versatile are the reasons I’m grateful to God for you!
❤ Me and God love you! ❤

 

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The Rules of the Versatile Blogger Award:

1. Thank the person who gave you this award, and include a link to their blog.
2. Nominate blogs that you’ve recently discovered or follow regularly.
3. Share 7 things about yourself that people might not know.

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7 Facts About Me:

1. I love God more than anything and anyone! ❤
2. I am so grateful for God’s mercy! ❤
3. I am blessed to call Jesus my friend! ❤
4. I cherish the whispers of the Holy Ghost! ❤
5. I cherish the pages of God’s Holy Word! ❤
6. God wisely provides me a double portion! ❤
7. God lovingly provides me a day of rest! ❤

My Nominations:

Overwhelmed By Joy
Through Ink and Image
This Beautiful Life
Red Letters
Invisibly Me
Rhythm In Life
Pure Glory
The Shower of Blessings
Walking With the Way
Lebana’s Journal

PTL! Congrats to the nominees!
Please do not feel obligated to participate!
If you, no rush! Do as God leads you!
I just want you to know how much God loves you!

THANK YOU, AGAIN, MISS LOVELY!
CONGRATS ON YOUR VERSATILE BLOGGER AWARD!

Walking the Walk, #4 Smell Walk

OH how fabulously wonderful You are, Lord. Absolutely fabulous! In who You are! In where You are! In how You are! I am so blessed to have met You here in this new favorite place You have given me. You have been whispering this place to me for quite some time, and I have tried to research as much as possible on how to meet You here. Yet today, You have spoken clearly, and delightfully surprised me!

It’s known for its gardens, but this is winter, so it was “barren” of the flowers everyone brags about. Yet I feel like it’s an earthy wonderland! It’s so beautifully designed. A beautiful use of concrete and earth in perfect blend… if there can be such a thing. It’s outdoors and yet so clean! Pristine! You are beautiful… wonderful… in Your time… in Your place! ❤ I go inside.

You first catch my attention with heritage… and have me think.

What is an important tradition in my family or community?
The only thing that comes to mind are family dinners we use to have at my grandmother’s house. My mom’s family use to have holiday dinners there. There was no certain time of day. Aunts, uncles, cousins, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, spouses, grandchildren, great grandchildren and several family friends would come and go throughout the day. When my grandmother passed in February of 2000, we no longer saw each other much, unless it was a funeral.

What have I learned by being a part of it?
Family can be so precious… even dysfunctional families. Enjoy the time while you can. It won’t last. It makes me think of one of my favorite gospel songs every time I lose someone I love…. I’ve Got More to Go to Heaven For (Than I Did Yesterday).

I’VE GOT MORE TO GO TO HEAVEN FOR
I’ve been on my way to Heaven… For a long, long time.
And many things have happened… That clouded up my mind.
But I am more determined… To walk the narrow way
For I’ve got more to go to Heaven for… Than I had yesterday.

CHORUS:
There’s a golden street to walk upon… A bell I’m gonna ring,
A brand-new angel in the choir… I wanna hear her sing.
There’ll be a lot of friends a-waiting… When I walk through the gate
I’ve got more to go to Heaven for… Than I had yesterday.

I’ve been through lonesome valleys… I’ve climbed the highest hill,
I’ve known the joy of living… In the center of God’s will.
I’ve watched the angels come and take… My loved ones home to stay
I’ve got more to go to Heaven for… Than I had yesterday.

You continue to have me think on family tradition.

Banana Pudding was our family tradition…
for every holiday… sometimes every meal.
Banana Pudding and Sweet Tea! ❤
“O taste and see that the Lord is good:
blessed is the man that trusteth in him.”
– Psalm 34:8 KJV

Now You turn my focus to water… Your gift to life.

Seeing this makes me think of the struggle I have with dehydration, and this makes for a great motivator and reminder! It also reminds me of when I was doing Lovely A’s 21 Day Self Care Challenge on her Discovering Your Happiness website. My response was noted on Self Care Challenge Day 8: Water. I actually took the picture thinking of her! ❤

Chewing Gum comes from a tree! Wow! I did not know that! 🙂

I love corn, beans, and squash! A tasty dinner to me, Lord! 🙂

After hearing some Native Americans narrate different nature topics and traditional stories, I venture outside. I have no pictures. I started just enjoying things when I sat down for the stories. I’m walking where there are normally gardens and flowers, so says the guy when I came in and every touring person that passes me. Yet I am not the least bit disappointed. Perhaps because I have not come to see them. I have come to see You!

Again the place just seems like the most tenderly fabulous earthy wonderland! I find one of the many beautifully designed areas to sit in, and just take You in. The sun is so bright and beautiful on this winter day, and the wind just does what it wants with my hair. But it’s OK. It’s comforting… because it’s You… being playful… being tender… being loving… being personal… being You! This place reminds me of places people have introduced to me in the past. For some reason I start thinking of those special faces.

Counselors, teachers, friends who have taken moments out to sit and talk with me… knowing that I am claustrophobic… and very uncomfortable with talking inside closed walls… while a clock ticks… reminding of how unimportant my words are, so make it quick for the one who is listening. But not here. Outside in a warm sun… with no clock hovering over me. It makes me miss them so. I have so much I wish I could talk to them about. They broke protocols and rules to go out of their way to help save me from things in my life when I did not know I needed saving from anything. My heart aches for them. I miss them as much as I miss family… even if some them were dysfunctional as well.  How human we all are. Yet we are Your humans! Thank You, Lord, for going out of Your way today to meet me here. I will be back!

As I start to walk away from this area, a smell permeates my air. And I can smell how beautiful it is! So pleasant! So comforting! There’s just something about it that smells like… You! I see nothing but barrenness until suddenly I see a sign that says Lily of the Valley! *GASP* Oh dear Lord! My favorite song! My grandmother’s favorite flower, and a name sweetly referenced to You!

Lily of the Valley – hymn lyrics by Charles W. Fry
I have found a friend in Jesus, He’s everything to me,
He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul;
The Lily of the Valley, in Him alone I see
All I need to cleanse and make me fully whole.
In sorrow He’s my comfort, in trouble He’s my stay;
He tells me every care on Him to roll. 

CHORUS:
He’s the Lily of the Valley, the Bright and Morning Star,
He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.

He all my grief has taken, and all my sorrows borne;
In temptation He’s my strong and mighty tow’r;
I have all for Him forsaken, and all my idols torn
From my heart and now He keeps me by His pow’r.
Though all the world forsake me, and Satan tempt me sore,
Through Jesus I shall safely reach the goal.
[CHORUS]

He will never, never leave me, nor yet forsake me here,
While I live by faith and do His blessed will;
A wall of fire about me, I’ve nothing now to fear,
From His manna He my hungry soul shall fill.
Then sweeping up to glory to see His blessed face,
Where rivers of delight shall ever roll.
[CHORUS]

It’s not visible, but I can smell despite the darkened earth. Praise Your name I can smell! I have been trying to do the Smell Walk, #3 of the 50 Walks within the Walking the Walk Challenge with Lovely A of Discovering Your Happiness, but have just not been able to smell! I had done Walking the Walk, #3 Delight Walk in its place. But I smelled that lovely Lily of the Valley! ❤ And this was before I had the occipital nerve block last week, of which I felt it opening my sinus within minutes.

As I continue to walk, I smell another familiar aroma… Spruce… everywhere! It smells so good! And just as I think of touching out of curiosity, You remind me of my allergies and sensitivities. I’ll never forget Scratch and Sniff 203! That was my Botany class. In lab exercises we walked the college campus scratching and sniffing twigs, flowers, branches (that we were warned not to touch because of chemicals to protect them). I had the worst allergic reaction I have had involving a fever. A high fever that did not break until the 9th day of a 10 day antibiotic course. No more Scratch and Sniff, Professors! 😉

All of this beautiful smell within a seemingly lifeless foliage makes me think on how filthy I must have looked to You underneath all of my sin when my soul laid beneath the dead and broken leaves, the barren dark branches, and this uninviting view. Yet You saw beauty in me. You saw You in me! Again I think of my counselors and teachers You used to save me, to clean and toil the surface, to dig out the roots and choking weeds, to rid me of that one dark blot…. multiplied by a thousand. Thank You for coming for me! Thank You for the souls You blessed me with. Help me to thankful for those I still have!

One last sign on the way out… is a Fabulous answer to prayer!

I continue to walk around and then find this sign telling me of several small trails! Could this be answer to prayer, and a guide for the 50 Walks in the Walking the Walk Challenge! Absolutely! Thank You for this day! For this intoxicating scent! For these fond memories of people I miss so much! Thank You for just being You! As Always! ❤

 

Breathing With Friends, Week 2

Lord, it’s week 2 and I was so worried that I wasn’t going to be able to attend because of having the occipital nerve block just a few hours before. I was praying and counting on the doctor being right, that I would be able to drive myself home. I had been cautiously optimistic enough to ask my sister Sandra to go with in case she had to drive home because it was the first time I was having shots put into the back of my head.

You were so faithful to answer that prayer! I was able to drive home, and then to the Breathe Ladies Bible Study! Thank You! ❤ Praise Your Holy Name! ❤

I go in and I see Keitha! Yay! A Keitha hug! I love a Keitha hug! I love hugs from my sisters in Christ! I love hugs! ❤ I have my badge (which I have forgotten to a picture of thus far). I sit down. I meet a new sister in Christ as Jackie comes to sit beside me, then Stephanie, and Kristy! Kristy has a new hairdo since I saw her last! It’s awesome! We have some great fellowship. My favorite moment was when Keitha was telling a couple of inside stories about her and Kristy. They were so funny!
I am missing Sarah this week. I thought of texting her so while sitting there, but left my cell in the car 😦  Lord willing, I will see her next week.

Then Keitha hands out a 30 Day De-Clutter Challenge Calendar!

As Keitha was talking about this challenge, she was asking us if there was clutter in our lives… if there was something or an area that was so cluttered we couldn’t even enjoy it anymore. She gave an example of a favorite chair that we might love sitting in, but we have put so many things around it, we can’t sit it in. We have to move a lot stuff out of the way, just to squeeze in. I immediately thought of my bed. I can’t believe I’m going to do this… but just for you who read… just for Keitha who encouraged… and for God who I am trusting on this journey He has prepared for me.

This is all the space in this world that I have for me and everything I own. You can see why as Keitha mentioned the chair so cluttered that things would have to be moved just to squeeze in I immediately thought of my bed that I barely have room to sleep in each night, or whenever I have procedures, or meds take over, or whatever reason I TRY to sit on my bed… even just to sit here and type on the computer… as you can see is crowded as well. So yes I did raise my hand when Keitha asked if anyone would be willing to do the 30 Day De-Clutter Challenge with her.

I will be blogging on that challenge for each day (even if I don’t necessarily get it typed THAT day). It reminds of when I was doing the 21 Day Self Care Challenge with Lovely A of Discovering Your Happiness, and I did my post on Self Care Challenge Day 17: De-Cluttering. God uses these challenges to help me get needed things done!

We did our viewing of the video
Breathe:Making Room for Sabbath by Priscilla Shirer.
This is week 2… Stops Along the Sabbath Journey.

I thought I would show you what a stop on my Sabbath journey looks like. On Sunday mornings I first take my stepdad to his church by 9 am, then go back to get my son to take him to his church, then back to my stepdad’s church because they get out first. I often do MY Sabbath in the car…. often like this… listening to my son’s church on the radio live while doing a puzzle book. It helps me to focus, I kid you not.

Notice the notes that took over my puzzle! 😉

After watching the video we discuss it, the book, our answers, and listening to Keitha talk about things we have normally enjoyed in the past, but we cannot enjoy now because there is so much clutter, or because we don’t say no to others, so we are no longer available to enjoy what we have.

Keitha has since sent an email including an attachment of the calendar for those who may have missed it. I am glad she did. Now I have one to keep up with in my book wherever I go, and one on my computer to remind while I am here at home.
I am not sure where  things will go from here… but I desperately need to clean in all the areas on that de-clutter challenge. Okay God, the rest is up to You!

Do you need to do the
30 Day De-Clutter Challenge
with me?? 😉

Breathing With Friends, week 1

Okay, Lord. Here we go on this new adventure You have set before me. This is the first week of the plans You have laid before me, as I wrote to You about in my last post Catching My Breath. I am so grateful and excited about this Breathe Ladies Bible Study that You are allowing me to do with Keitha and Sarah! Keitha will be leading us on this study… Breathe: Making Room for Sabbath written by Priscilla Shirer.

As I have arrived, I am so nervous. It’s been awhile since I have been able to see some of the ladies. I am also missing Irene being able to do a study with me. I miss her going with me to church, ladies events, and just being here. I know I will see her in heaven, and I thank You for giving her a loving home and pain free life. I just miss her. ❤ Hug her for me!

You encourage me with the thought of seeing Sarah, Keitha, and other familiar faces I am sure I will see. Everyone loves doing a bible study with Keitha! Just to spend time with her is a precious gift from You! We ladies know that when You have Keitha leading, we WILL be given a MEATY serving of Your Holy Word, and that we will have MEANINGFUL and LOVING conversations, and of course a lot of LAUGHS! You tell us laughter is good medicine… so that makes Keitha good medicine! 😉

A merry heart doeth good like a medicine:
but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
– Proverbs 17:22 KJV

As I go inside the church I have never been in before, I get in line and meet a couple of new friends… Carol and Pat are my new sisters in Christ! As we talk, the person in front of them turns around and I see a familiar face! Stephanie! We are so excited to say hey because it has been so long! Last time I saw her she was single. We had kept up in touch via FB, so I knew she was married now. 2 years they have been married already! It was so nice to be able to catch up! We got signed in, got our books, a paper summarizing an outline for the study, and went to find a seat at the table.

Sarah! We see Sarah right off to our right and were able to sit with her! It was such a gift to catch up with her as well! I was hoping to find out how her infant nephew was doing. He is doing better, but is still in the NICU with underdeveloped lungs. It is taking a toll on her sister and brother in law. It was Sarah who had given me a heads up about the study and put my name on a list that allowed me to receive the email from Keitha! Thank you, Sarah!
We all did some fellowshipping and snacks while Keitha went over what we would be doing. We then went around the table, each lady telling her name, her church, and something she loves to do to relax. It was awesome to hear so many different backgrounds! At least 10 different churches, some even “looking” (I like that word better than unchurched), and so many different ways to relax: reading, napping, massages, sitting in a porch swing, going out of town, time with family, hiking, running, exercising, exploring graveyards, spa visits, hair salon visits, shopping, and many more. We even did door prizes.

Then we went to watch the Priscilla Shirer video made for the study.

We took notes as we listened to fill in the blanks.
This was week one: The Freedom of the Sabbath

 

We had discussion afterwards on the video, the notes, and just in general. We then gathered in a circle, some holding hands, as we took prayer requests, and prayed. Lastly, we were each given a book marker with a bible verse relating to the study.

It was such a blessing to be able to do this study, Lord! Thank You for including me! Thank You for letting me see Sarah, Keitha, Stephanie, so many familiar faces, and meeting new sisters in Christ! ❤ I pray for each one of the prayer requests mentioned (and unspoken), each lady attending (an unable to make it), for all our families, for the church who opened their doors for us, for those who brought and/or served snacks, for those who served in any way, and for anyone that You know needs a special prayer. Praise You, God!

Oh and I did do my homework! 😉

Catching My Breath

Sitting here in this car, Lord, I had to pull off somewhere. I needed to get away from the frustrations, and the world choking me with petty quarrels. I needed so desperately to find a moment with You. I pulled as far away from traffic and people as possible. I have the car turned off, the windows downs, and my eyes closed. I take in a deep breath. My body appreciates it, but I’m still struggling to hear You. And somehow that breath doesn’t seem complete… or like it’s enough. So many thought running through my mind… including… “Well do I pray? Do I listen first? How long should I listen before I pray? Are You trying to talk to me? Want me to talk to You? Or just listen.”

I hear traffic. I hear birds. I hear the wind. They’re distracting noises. So I apologize for allowing my thoughts to wonder. Yet as I apologize You seem to say, “Be still. Listen.” I try to focus again. Here I go apologizing again for anything that comes to mind or that I hear. And You tell me with emphasis, “Be still! Stop worrying about how you should think or what you hear, or even what comes to mind. Be completely still. Listen! What ever you hear… listen to it. Whatever comes to mind, think on it. Just be still… listen.. and be.” 

Suddenly I hear the birds sing. I hear the wind, as I feel it blowing through the car, being so tenderly playful with my hair, feeling so cool on my skin. And then the blog I did called Look Up, and the one called CHOOSE LIFE come to mind. I am reminded to look up. And so I do. **light gasp** Oh how marvelously wonderful You are! I see You… in Your beautiful sky! The firmament in which You have placed such gorgeous dark clouds. Any other day I might been weary of them. I have experienced the importance of reading bad clouds. You use these thoughts to remind me of what You’ve brought me through… of times when You were there. And how You looked after me.

Now You have me close my eyes so that I can see You… YOU! I see warm light. I feel You. I see You! How my heart smiles! I feel Your breath coming through the window… breathing Your Spirit over me… breathing in me new life. It flows over me so mercifully. I soak it up as long as I can. I have forgotten everything else. It reminds me John 20:19-22:

Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost.

I feel such a calm. I can feel my body relax all over… completely relax. I am mindful of this because very time I go to a doctor’s appointment, or any of my therapists, I am told I can’t relax. Even when they help me to relax more than when I came in, they tell me my body cannot “completely relax“. They say my body is “holding onto the stress” in whatever area they are working with. They say they need to “retrain my brain” to communicate with that area. Electronic testing shows there is very poor communication… sometimes it’s my brain not sending the signal, and sometimes it’s the affected area not responding to the signal. So even just this moment with You is golden! You are telling me to, “Let go. Stop holding onto the stress… even the strings to it. Give everything to me… and breathe. Just be”.

Life calls and interrupts. I knew the moment would be brief. That was part of the stress. How to make 10 minutes be a meaningful moment to Be still and know that [You] are God. Psalm 46:10. You have reminded me that “I” don’t make it meaningful… You do! Just by being there! ❤ However, it’s time to take my son to work. On the way, he wants to play the radio and hears a favorite song. He turns it up and tells me to pay attention. When it’s over another song comes on. **GASP** You are so awesomely personal!! ❤ A song comes on singing our very personal conversation… “Just breathe… Just Breathe. And be… just be“..

Just to hear him say this… and actually pause… with a very well played music to draw you right in to a dramatic pause. I instantly take in a deep breath… a good one. And oh… the release is just as relaxed and complete. How can a song do this? With Your touch, of course! I YouTube it when I get home. The opening pace seems a little quick and annoys me at first, but as I read the words while I listen I realize it’s perfect. It’s describing and sounding like the frantic pace in my life… in my brain. Yet again, as soon as it sings the first line of that chorus, and I draw in that DEEP breath. As I breathe out I am no longer affected by the other quick part, sometimes I don’t even hear it because I have followed the words to Your chorus exactly where You said to go. And oh, was it wonderful.

CHORUS:
Breathe, just breathe
Come and rest at my feet
And be, just be
Chaos calls but all you really need
Is to just breathe

I read the other lines, and each word is like confessing all those little things that vie for my time, and my peace of mind. Well, except the coffee. For me it would be tea or soda.

Alarm clock screaming bare feet hit the floor
It’s off to the races everybody out the door
I’m feeling like I’m falling behind, it’s a crazy life

Ninety miles an hour going fast as I can

Trying to push a little harder trying to get the upper hand
So much to do in so little time, it’s a crazy life
It’s ready, set, go it’s another wild day
When the stress is on the rise in my heart I feel you say just

Third cup of joe just to get me through the day
Want to make the most of time but I feel it slip away
I wonder if there’s something more to this crazy life
I’m busy, busy, busy, and it’s no surprise to see
That I only have time for me, me, me
There’s gotta be something more to this crazy life
I’m hanging on tight to another wild day
When it starts to fall apart in my heart I hear you say just

So I sing these words (or really listen because it’s less stressful 😉 ), tapping along. I definitely feel like I’m falling behind all of the time, as though I’m going 90 miles an hour, I love how that 2nd stanza ends with “when the stress is on the rise in my heart (with that rising rapid beat in rhythm and sound) I feel you say just... And that therapeutic chorus comes. **SIGH** I am in complete peace with You!

It’s amazing how “I can be busy, busy, busy, and it’s no surprise to see that I only have time for me, me, me.” I mean we’re taught if we’re busy it gets our mind off of ourselves. But if my alone time is so busy that all I am focused on is “Am I?” “Do I? “How do I? “What do I?” That is just me, me, me. I need to be silent. Not just outside of my head. Because it is then that “when [my day] starts to fall apart in my heart I hear you just say… Just breathe…” I can come and rest at Your feet. I don’t care if chaos is calling. I only hear You. You are all I need! ❤

You finish with instructing me on WHY I need to breathe.

Is to take it in, fill your lungs
The peace of God that overcomes
Just breathe (just breathe)
let your weary spirit rest
Lay down what’s good and find what’s best
Just breathe (just breathe)

After I sing for a bit, I come across a FB Inbox Message from my dear friend Sarah letting me know that our dear friend Keitha has will be leading an upcoming ladies bible study. Then I receive an e-mail from Keitha with all of the info. And what was the name of the bible study…. 🙂 BREATHE!!! ❤ I am so excited, and so thrilled to know you have plans for me! And with such precious friends! You had been speaking to me, encouraging me to be involved in an activity with the church ladies. You worked everything out according to Your well laid plans… according to Your Holy Will! ❤

SO now I will lay my head to rest, thinking on Psalm 4:4:

Stand in awe, and sin not:
commune with your own heart upon your bed,

and be still. Selah.