❤ Lord, what a thoughtful Valentine You sent me through dearest Lovely A! ❤
❤ Yes, Lord, I will absolutely be Yours! As I am now and forever will be! ❤Thank you, Miss Lovely, for letting God using you to send me such kind thoughts on such a lovely day! How fitting! 😉 You are as lovely as the wishes you send out with every post you make on Discovering Your Happiness! I enjoy watching God help you grow into such a wonderful young lady! I am blessed to call you friend! My Croatian Australian sister in Christ! Thank you for my bright valentine in this Sunshine Blogger Award! 🙂 ❤ Thanks for challenging me and keeping me thinking! Me and God love you! <3.
RULES
Thank the blogger who nominated you and link back to her/his blog.
List the rules and display Sunshine Blogger Award logo on your post or blog.
Answer 11 questions the blogger asked you.
Nominate 11 bloggers to receive the award and write them 11 questions.
My Questions from Lovely A:
What is a motivating quote you live by? Keep God first! Above everyone and everything! No matter what!
If you had to share one piece of life advice, what would it be? ❤ God loves you! ❤
Do you live with any regret? Unfortunately, but God uses them to help me to be thankful and wiser.
Are you happy where you are right now? God makes me happy! 🙂
What is your dream job? Whatever God asks of me!
What is your favourite movie of all time? Jesus of Nazareth
If you had to live off one food forever, what would it be? spasagna
If you were an animal, what would you be? a bird… so I could fly and sing for God all day ❤
What is your favourite thing to cook? pizza
Where did you blog name originate from? I love God and want everyone to know it! ❤
Do you have any holidays planned for 2018? random days and events that God allows
What was your last post about? Tag it for others to see.
What was your first ever post about? Tag it too.
What is the theme for your blog?
Do you have more than one blog? If so, link each one for others to know.
Do you have a favorite verse?
Where in the world do you live?
What is your favorite color?
Who has influenced your life?
What have you given to God?
Cheerios or Corn Flakes?
Congratulation to each nominee! Please do not feel obligated to participate. If you do, no rush! Do it in your own way, and in your own time! The Sunshine Blogger Award is meant to be a blessing, not a burden. Thank you for allowing God to use you to bring Sunshine into my day! ❤ God loves you! ❤ 🙂
My Dearest Lord, how incredibly awe-inspiring You are! How lovingly You pursue me! So faithfully woo me! You amaze my heart every single day! And night! Every safe and troublesome night! Just last night we had some very dangerous weather come in, leaving some very slick roads. Yet Anthoni had to get on those roads to get to work. I knew he had 4 Wheel drive, but after the fog storm that iced over the entire western part of our state so unexpectedly, not even showing up on radar as it kept adding layers of black ice, in broad daylight, leaving thousands stranded, and hundreds of accidents everywhere.
One of those accidents involving 2 jackknifed tractor trailers left my brother, brother-in-law, and family friend stranded on the Interstate for 7 hours. Even after they got off safely, the car had idled so long on the ice that when they stopped for gas, the car would not come out of park, and had to be towed home. Records were created or broken over that mysterious foggy ice storm (mysterious to us 😉 ) just a week or so before. And so I wanted to see Anthoni off on this night, encourage him, ask him to text when there safely, and just let him know I love him. But that was not how things happened.
My meds were making it hard to even open my eyes for more than a second, a very brief and blurry second. My brain struggled to gain consciousness. As Anthoni was letting me know he was leaving, I was trying hard to awaken, but all I could get out was, “I’m sorry I can’t seem to wake up, Anthoni. I do love you. Please be safe. Let me know you made it when you do.” And I did not get that out all at the same time. I couldn’t stay awake to make sure he heard me, or understand what he said when I could tell he was trying to talk to me, and seemed frustrated that I couldn’t stay awake enough to hear him.
As he started warming up the car, I began to pray to You. “Lord, please help me. Please be with my son. I’m sorry I can’t seem to stay awake even enough to pray. Please keep him safe. Help him get to work safely. Help him not to forget to let me know he did.” Again, I didn’t get this out all at one time, and I didn’t “vocalize” any of it. At one point all I could say was, “I love You, Lord. I love you.” And kept repeating it any time I had consciousness. I made the decision to trust You, to know You wouldn’t punish me, or take it out on Anthoni, just because I couldn’t stay awake. The night was holding on to me, but that’s not the kind of God You are. You are our most loving and protective Father who loves when we trust You. It’s what You desire most from us. So that’s what I did. I counted on You. And got those few words out any time my brain would allow, while making the decision to stop fighting so hard to think, but instead trust You and go onto sleep. And just before I was falling off to sleep I heard those words.
“You are good, good, oh. You are good, good, oh.
You are good, good, good, good.”
Even as I heard them, they touched my heart in such a way. You were comforting me, assuring me, that You were good and loving. You were tenderly letting me know You well understood about my meds and my concern for my son. You were a doting parent caressing my forehead as You were singing me off to sleep. When I awakened, I immediately smiled. I remembered how tender and wonderful You had been to me. And there was a text from Anthoni. That song kept coming to mind all day long. Something told me I knew the song, yet I couldn’t figure how. Good, Good Father by Christ Tomlin was close, but I knew it wasn’t what You sang me to sleep with. So I went to my YouTube playlists.
I didn’t really know what title to look for because as much as I felt I knew the song, I also had a certainty that I didn’t know it well and would have to figure it out. So I asked You to help me find it. A song titled King of my Heart by Kutless kept coming up, but I would say, “Oh that can’t be it, Lord. I don’t know that song. I know it’s in my playlist, but that’s just because our church sang it a few times during the year so I saved it to be familiar with it. It never really did anything for me. I mean, I know the message was good and godly, and I know friends on WordPress introduced it to me as well, but it just never stayed with me. I don’t even know the words.” So I Googled what I did know… the words You played in my mind as I decided to trust You… to fall asleep and let go of the night.
“You are good, good, oh. You are good, good, oh.
You are good, good, good, good.”
Again! King of My Heart by Kutless came up! So I played it, and listened… and *GASP*!!! It was it! EVERY SINGLE WORD just touched my heart! So many things that You and I personally talk about… were in those words! Here I had trusted You, but You were comforting me! In every single word!
Let the King of my heart Be the mountain where I run
So often I struggle with getting that walk on that beautiful Blue Ridge mountain… walking the Parkway bridge. I wish so badly that I could run that mountain like so may of my friends… Joe and his girlfriend Joy, Tina… or cycle it like my friends Tony and his friends, a few of my doctor friends, Jonathan… or at least walk the trails like my dearest Cousin Kimberly (who was the first woman to YOYO the Mountains to Sea Trail in 2016 and will hike The Pacific Crest Trail in March of this year…. Shout out to “Legs!”!! 🙂 ). Kimberly was the one who the Lord used to inspire me to walk on the Parkway. Yet as I wrote in Walking the Walk Challenge, #1 Color Walk and Walking the Walk Challenge, #2 Texture Walk for Lovely A’s Walking the Walk Challenge, I often end up here in this bed, and have to do that walk with You right here. You help me find joy in “letting the King of my heart be the mountain where I run.” That’s right! With You… I can run! On any mountain! On any bridge! Anywhere! ❤
The fountain I drink from
I struggle too with getting hydrated enough. It’s affecting my health in so many ways, as I have noted in Self Care Challenge Day 8: Water when I was doing Lovely A’s 21 Day Self Care Challenge. So as I hear this line, I am encouraged to “let the King of my heart be the fountain I drink from.” 🙂 “O tasteandsee that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.” – Psalm 34:8 KJV
Oh, He is my song
OH, does this ever make my day! The testimony that You finally helped me to get down when Lene invited me to write on Song of Virginity was titled The Love of My Life – I am His Song, so immediately this came to mind with an overflowing emotion that You would give me those words… He is my song! I am Your song, and You are mine! Your banner over me is Love! How loved I am!! ❤
Let the King of my heart Be the shadow where I hide
How often I close my eyes to escape the world and its unpleasantness. How I run to You for shelter… seeking a place to hide. “Let the King of my heart be the shadow where I hide” reminds of the tender hymn You taught me years ago during storms of the Tornado Outbreak Season of 2011 that I could not hide from but found shelter in You… and every word of He Hideth My Soul! ❤
The ransom for my life
You remind me of the cost You have paid for my life. Yet instead of conviction, it is assurance that though I sometimes long for Home so much that it is all I can think about, You remind me of things You have brought me through, and things that vie for my life and soul, but You… the One who gave me my life.. is the King who paid “the ransom for my life…” because You love me! ❤ You have rescued me… for Yourself! ❤
Let the King of my heart Be the wind inside my sails
You know, dear Lord, how much I yearn to fly! I want to just soar through the air… enjoying Your majestic beauty… feeling the breath of Your wind in my hair… and supporting my lifeless body. “Let the King of my heart be the wind beneath my sails.” ❤ Let’s fly, Lord! Let’s sail! ❤
The anchor in the waves
Again, I think of those terrible storms, and the rocky waves of this world. Yet You whisper in those words that You are “the anchor in the waves.” ❤
Let the King of my heart Be the fire inside my veins
As I have learned the Lymphedema that I was diagnosed with is a breakdown of my veins from the pressure of the fluid, these words definitely feel like an anthem… a cry… a determination to “let the King of my heart be the fire inside my veins.” You make me grateful all over again for the therapists. They were definitely The Gift of the Year 2017: Therapy… and are still very much a gift from You! ❤
The echo of my days
When I question… Has there been a point to my life? Have I given You a testimony? Do I let You down? Or give You a reason to smile? You remind me my life is not about my whiny little self. It’s all about You! As it should be! Again, another anthem to gladly state and pray that You would be “the echo of my days.” Let them see You! ❤
You’re never gonna let Never gonna let me down
Whether it’s trusting You with my son, or that You won’t punish me because I cannot fight my medicines or the sleep they induce, or not be able to give You the respect You deserve to sit up or address You reverently when praying, or pray on any of the above mentioned issues… “You’re never gonna let, never gonna let me down!” And yes… that was worth repeating! That’s how much I believe it! Here I was worried about letting You down, and yet it’s just like Your great love to be tender and caring to me! ❤
When the night is holding on to me God is holding on
Last night really tried to steal my peace of mind. It certainly fought for my consciousness, as much as it wouldn’t let it rest either. Yet as I chose to trust in You, to trust in the words I could pray to You, as well as the ones I couldn’t even vocalize to You, You heard every word… including how much I love You. You remind me that as I chose to trust You and started to close my eyes for the night, regardless of the fear of letting You down, You remind me of how thoughtful You were to comfort me, but this time the words are, “When the night is holding on to me, God is holding on.”
You are good, good, oh You are good, good, oh Yes, You are good, good, oh You are good, good, oh
No wonder my soul was in love with those words. “You are good, good, oh. You are good, good, oh. Yes, You are good, good, oh. You are good, good, oh.” No wonder my soul was in love with You… the King of my heart! How wonderfully good You are to me! I love it when You give me a song or a word like this in my sleep! When only You have access to me! Thank You for letting me know You were there… that You were listening… that You were moved by my trust in You. Thank You for just being You! You ARE good! ❤
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!
WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY WEARING? clothes 😉
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN LOVE? Yes
DID YOU EVER HAVE A TERRIBLE BREAKUP? Yes
HOW OLD ARE YOU? knocking on 50
HOW TALL ARE YOU? taller than average, but not enough to be considered tall
HOW MUCH DO YOU WEIGH? too much
DO YOU HAVE ANY PIERCINGS? yes
DO YOU HAVE ANY TATTOOS? No
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE DRINK? chocolate milk
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE SONG? right now it’s King of My Heart by Kutless
WHAT’S YOUR ZODIAC SIGN? I don’t do astrology.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE YOU TO SHOWER? 15-20 mins
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE SHOW? preaching
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE BAND? Red Letters right now
SOMETHING YOU REALLY MISS? being smaller/healthier
WHERE DO YOU GO WHEN YOU’RE SAD? to my Lord and Savior ❤
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE YOU TO GET READY IN THE MORNING? 30 mins to 1 hour
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN A PHYSICAL FIGHT? unfortunately
WHAT TURNS YOU ON? a genuine love for the Lord ❤
WHAT TURNS YOU OFF? the lack of a relationship with the Lord
QUALITY YOU LOOK FOR IN A PARTNER? Christ focused instead of self focused
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE COLOR? lavender
LOUD MUSIC OR SOFT? soft
FAVORITE QUOTE? God loves you! ❤
FAVORITE ACTOR? Kirk Cameron
DO YOU HAVE ANY FEARS? WHAT THEY ARE? Yes… quite a few…
but fearing the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge
WHAT’S THE LAST THING THAT MADE YOU CRY? the movie LION
MEANING BEHIND YOUR BLOG NAME? gaillovesgod means I ❤ God!
LAST TIME YOU SAID YOU LOVED SOMEONE? To my son
LAST BOOK YOU READ? sad to say Love by Lang Leav… very disappointing… didn’t like it at all
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
LAST SHOW YOU WATCHED? McLintock (John Wayne movie)
LAST PLACE YOU WERE? right here
LAST SPORT YOU PLAYED? sack race
WHO’S THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO? the Lord
LAST SONG YOU SANG? Does Jesus Care? (hymn)
FAVORITE CHAT UP LINE? God loves you!
DO YOU HAVE A CRUSH? no
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN YOU AND THE PERSON YOU LAST TEXTED? friends
FAVORITE FOOD? spasagna and ice-cream
PLACE YOU WANT TO VISIT? Australia
WHAT’S THE LAST TIME YOU KISSED SOMEONE? my son
LAST TIME YOU WERE INSULTED? family pettiness
FAVORITE FLAVOR OF SWEET? Chocolate
WHAT INSTRUMENTS DO YOU PLAY? very little piano
FAVORITE PIECE OF JEWELRY? I don’t have any.
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.
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! ❤
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
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!
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! 🙂
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! ❤
‘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
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! ❤
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!!
“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,
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! ❤
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
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.
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
God, You have surprised me with a new award… the Unique Blogger Award. You, Oh Lord, make this blog Unique! There is No One like You! How truly honored Lovely A and I are to have Your whispers come our way! How blessed we are for the Holy Spirit to guide us in being wise to listen… and obey. Thank you for whispering my name into her ear. May You receive all the glory and praise this award allows and shares. 🙂
Congratulations, Lovely A (aka Discovering Your Happiness) on your Unique Blogger Award! And your 44,000 views! God is certainly “shining sunlight” all over your followers through your posts. It shows in your views… consistently growing so well. You might hit 45,000 before I finish this post! 50,000 is just around the corner! 🙂
Just keep letting His “Son shine” in and through you, and the Lord will keep whispering! Keep obeying and He will never cease to amaze you! ❤ He loves you! And He always will!
PS. I love discovering my happiness in your surprise messages! 😉 Thank you!
Answering the Questions: 1. What are your 2018 goals? Lord willing, follow God and choose life. 2. What are your top 3 ways to reduce stress? alone time with God, prayer, writing 3. Where do you see yourself 5 years from now? Wherever the Lord leads me.
My Questions for Nominees: 1. How did you first learn about WordPress? 2. Where in the world do you live? 3. Do you know how much God loves you?
You are so Unique to Him! ❤
Congratulations to the nominees! May everyone who reads this post know how unique you truly are… especially to the One who made you! ❤ He loves you!
How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are? However old I really am. 😉 If I were able to be how old I feel, I would be 21! It’s the closest age to being a child without having to give up my legal rights. But I have no right to my life. It belongs to Christ. I freely gave it to Him because He gave His for me. ❤ I am the age He has given.
Which is worse, failing or never trying? Depends if God is saying “Do” or “Be still and know that I am God”
If life is so short, why do we do so many things we don’t like and like so many things we don’t do? Paul addressed that very thing in Romans 7. It’s because we are in the flesh until the day we die, therefore evil is present despite the good.
When it’s all said and done, will you have said more than you’ve done? That depends on God’s will for my life… if God says, “Speak of these things” or “Keep Guard over the door of thy mouth”
What is the one thing you’d most like to change about the world? That ALL would know and love the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost!
If happiness was the national currency, what kind of work would make you rich? God’s will… Lord willing, that would be writing.
Are you doing what you believe in, or are you settling for what you are doing? I am doing what I believe in… trusting God with my life.
If the average human life span was 40 years, how would you live your life differently? There are things I would like to change, but I trust I am who I am in Christ by leading the life that God designed and allowed specifically for me.
To what degree have you actually controlled the course your life has taken? 0% God has always had control and always will!
Are you more worried about doing things right, or doing the right things? They should be the same, but if I am doing God’s will, both are covered.
You’re having lunch with three people you respect and admire. They all start criticizing a close friend of yours, not knowing she is your friend. The criticism is distasteful and unjustified. What do you do? Say a quick prayer under my breath as I calmly but firmly point out to the three “friends” their behavior and/or comments, asking how they would feel facing such ridicule and humiliation from a friend. Offering support to the friend being unjustly attacked.
If you could offer a newborn child only one piece of advice, what would it be? God loves you! He created you. He loves you, and He always will! ❤
Would you break the law to save a loved one? If we are talking about rushing to save someone in a deadly situation, of course I would not worry about traffic laws or such; but if we are talking about doing just anything to save a loved one from something they should not be doing, and helping would be enabling or justifying a wrong behavior… then no! God is the only one who knows what’s best in each situation. Trust and Obey.
Have you ever seen insanity where you later saw creativity? Yes. In my writing. Not by my doing, but by His.
What’s something you know you do differently than most people? I go to God about every single thing in my life, regardless of how trivial it may seem. If God says, “No” when the world says, “Are you crazy? Everyone does.” So be it! If God says, “Yes, absolutely!” when the world says, “Are you crazy? No one does.” I don’t care! If it bores, annoys, or offends that is their problem. It is not my desire to do those things, but I ought to obey God rather than man!
How come the things that make you happy don’t make everyone happy? Well the things that make me happy are God, so anyone who does not care for God will not be happy with Him. Everyone finds happiness in different things.
What one thing have you not done that you really want to do? What’s holding you back? Fly! A passport, money, opportunity, fear, anxiety, God’s blessing.
Are you holding onto something you need to let go of? It’s always possible. I trust God to let me know, or have me just let go.
If you had to move to a state or country besides the one you currently live in, where would you move and why?
Australia! God has placed so many friends in my life that are from Australia, and He uses Lovely A and a few others to keep that hope alive!
Do you push the elevator button more than once? Do you really believe it makes the elevator faster? Of course. Slightly. It doesn’t “push” the elevator but it does encourage the sensor that is waiting on a set time before the door closes to detect a need to close. I learned this from some electrical engineering buddies.
Would you rather be a worried genius or a joyful simpleton? A joyful simpleton so that I could experience God’s abundant joy! ❤
Why are you, you? Because God made me, Me! 🙂
Have you been the kind of friend you want as a friend? I wish I could say yes, but that would be dishonest to my friends… especially to my best friend Jesus!
Which is worse, when a good friend moves away, or losing touch with a good friend who lives right near you? They are equally unfortunate. They are both sad situations.
What are you most grateful for? Jesus dying for me on the cross to reconcile me to my Father ❤
Would you rather lose all of your old memories, or never be able to make new ones? This is a painful one to answer, as most days I feel like I am struggling with both. They are both cruel. They both rob you of friendship, love, family, support, and anything else. If God allows my choice, I would do neither. It would mean never remembering Him and His great love. 😦
Is it possible to know the truth without challenging it first? Yes. To know Christ is to know the way, the truth, and the life. He doesn’t mind us challenging Him or the truth. But it is not necessary.
Has your greatest fear ever come true? No. And according to God’s Holy word, He promises it never will because I gave my life… my soul… to Him.
Do you remember that time 5 years ago when you were extremely upset? Does it really matter now? I do remember extremely upsetting things from 5 years ago. Of course they matter now. They remind me of what Christ has brought me through.
What is your happiest childhood memory? What makes it so special? swimming. I loved to swim! I loved the feel of the water… the feeling of being wet. I loved feeling my body float… pain free! ❤ I miss it!
At what time in your recent past have you felt most passionate and alive? This is another hard one because I don’t have passion for anything other than loving Christ. If it weren’t for that I would struggle to feel life. When improvements in my health gave me the hope that I could run again, swim again, live again. But that was tragically replaced with a cruel reality. Now I find what life I can in being able to walk and live. Dreaming of flying makes me smile. Walking (or flying) with Jesus makes it all worth while.
If not now, then when? I really don’t care about this kind of question. It just exhausts me to even think about. Christ… everything for me is about Christ. Including living!
If you haven’t achieved it yet, what do you have to lose? Writing and flying are what comes to mind. I’m doing one, and following God for when He will allow the other.
Have you ever been with someone, said nothing, and walked away feeling like you just had the best conversation ever? Yes. It’s a good feeling. It happens all the time with Christ! 😉 ❤
Why do religions that support love cause so many wars? Because they have to defend against those who hate.
Is it possible to know, without a doubt, what is good and what is evil? Yes! Absolutely! By reading God’s word, praying, and trusting God.
If you just won a million dollars, would you quit your job? It would depend on if I liked the job I was doing, or if it was what God called me to do. He could either be supplying money to change jobs, or support the one I have.
Would you rather have less work to do, or more work you actually enjoy doing? I would rather have what God wants to give me, where He wants to give it.
Do you feel like you’ve lived this day a hundred times before? Sometimes
When was the last time you marched into the dark with only the soft glow of an idea you strongly believed in? When God called me to leave my church, even though I loved them so much.
If you knew that everyone you know was going to die tomorrow, who would you visit today? As many unsaved souls that God knew I could reach for Him!
Would you be willing to reduce your life expectancy by 10 years to become extremely attractive or famous? No
What is the difference between being alive and truly living? Being alive is just physically being here, pretty much like a 100% brain dead bedridden patient. Truly living is living life abundantly… with joy… doing!
When is it time to stop calculating risk and rewards, and just go ahead and do what you know is right? When God has made it clear it is His will.
If we learn from our mistakes, why are we always so afraid to make a mistake? Because we have learned the cost it takes to endure a mistake… the energy. We fear we may not survive the next one.
What would you do differently if you knew nobody would judge you? live… sing… fly… live… abundantly!
When was the last time you noticed the sound of your own breathing? As I was typing this. I noticed I am becoming… have been exhausted, and wonder if I will make it through this before falling asleep.
What do you love? Have any of your recent actions openly expressed this love? I love Christ! Yes! Not only does my username say so, but I try to tell everyone in any way I can. If all else fails, I have at least declared my love for Him! ❤
In 5 years from now, will you remember what you did yesterday? What about the day before that? Or the day before that? Lord willing. Only He knows. Only He can! Allow!
Decisions are being made right now. The question is: Are you making them for yourself, or are you letting others make them for you? I am absolutely letting Christ make them for me! It doesn’t mean I lay down and do nothing. Quite the contrary. I am actively seeking to do what He expects of me each day! I have decided to follow Christ, and that makes me accountable! Faith without works is dead! A testimony testifies for or against the one who openly proclaims.
Lord, the way this was formatted did not allow for me to write this as a letter to You, but You understand the format of my heart. I pray these answers glorify You. They are as true as I understand them to be. I pray they do whatever You have intended for Lovely A’s “Ask Yourself“, as she asked me to answer these. I hand them over to You! In the Lovely name of Christ Jesus, Amen! ❤
My Dearest Lord and Savior, how your many kindnesses and thoughtfulness continue. We are in a season to celebrate YOU, yet YOU give and give…. cheer and cheer. You already gave me treasured friendship in Lovely A… my Australian sister across the waters. Sisters from different sides of the world, and sisters in Christ from the same Father. You gift her with helping others inDiscovering Your Happiness. You use her to encourage me, educate me, and think on You and me.
Now You have her think on me with The Christmas Tag... to share Your love with others. Bless her, Lord, as You certainly have a lot lately. Allow Your blessings to continue to flow through her. May hearts be receptive to her recent postTalk to God, as there is unexplainable peace in doing so. Many souls are in desperate need to pour their hearts out to You, and in greater need to hear from You.
THE RULES:
– Thank the person that nominated you with a link to their blog
– Add the picture in your blog
– Copy these rules into your post
– Add a link to this original post (littlediyprojects.wordpress.com/thechristmastag)
– Answer the 10 questions (you can add extra Christmas-related questions if you want)
– Tag at least 3 other bloggers with links to their blogs
– Have fun!
THE 10 QUESTIONS TO ANSWER:
What’s your favorite thing about Christmas? JESUS! Absolutely everything Jesus! And finally the world joins me in celebrating Him, even if they think they’re “just enjoying the holidays.” His love is contagious!
What’s your favorite Christmas memory? My favorite Christmas memory is a season life when all of us in my family were grown, doing extremely well, with several friends at all times, mom, dad, and gran just as much a part of our group, active in church, family communion at the altar with our friends, making sure we were together by midnight when we started opening gifts, as we passed foods and drinks around. We always had extra friends or strangers down to the last minute, but always had plenty to share with whoever the Lord sent our way… even presents. We loved sharing God’s blessings. Anthoni was everyone’s little buddy.
Are there special traditions your family has for Christmas? We did communion at 6pm and gathered together to open presents at midnight.
What’s your Christmas wish? (Can be personal or general) That everybody everywhere somehow would take even one moment to say, “Happy Birthday, Emmanuel!”
What’s your favorite Christmas dish? Always banana pudding (or as we say in these part nana pud’n 😉 )
What’s your favorite Christmas decoration? The Nativity and the Star
What’s your favorite Christmas song? Happy Birthday, Jesus ❤
Where do you usually celebrate Christmas? Church and home
What does the ‘Christmas Spirit’ mean to you? Being filled with the peace and joy of God’s love sent to us through His only Son. The Spirit fills us with such awe and wonder, and yet with a childlike faith. We have hope because of His coming, and we know He WILL come again! 🙂
Who out of anybody in the world would you want to spend your Christmas with? Jesus. It’s always about Jesus! I love Him! Because He first loved me! ❤
Praise You and Thank You, Lord, for delightfully surprising me with the Blogger Recognition Award… especially at a time that I was exhausted and weary from so much that You are using to bring good into my life.I was actually nominated on November 9th, but had to wait for the energy and time to properly thank Lovely Anita of Discovering Your Happiness. She constantly encourages me and motivates me every time You lead me to read her site, or go to encourage her, and sometimes You simply whisper in her ear to let me know You are thinking of me… even if her words may not convey that SHE knows You are speaking through her!
I’m especially excited to thank You for her when she has received an award for being ranked in the TOP 75 HAPPINESS BLOGS on Feedspot! So others can see her post Ranked In The TOP 75 Happiness Blogs and join in celebrating with her! God, You are so good and generous! Honestly, I’m not surprised, but I am so incredibly thrilled for her! I constantly see others responsive on how blessed they are with her site, reblogging, and doing posts regarding what she has posted. May she continue to be blessed, Lord!
RULES FOR THIS AWARD:
Thank the blogger who nominated you and link to their blog.
Write a post to show your award.
Give a brief story of how your blog started.
Give two pieces of advice to new bloggers.
Select 5 other bloggers you want to give this award to and comment on each blog to let them now with a link to your award post.
How gaillovesgod Got Started:
Originally, it was just private conversations with You, Lord. This last summer You led me to begin The 30 Truth Posts Challenge, telling 30 aspects about myself, for Dear Fatima of Splendor In Embers. You had me be open with everything, including my privacy settings. During that challenge, You led me to Lovely A’s 21 Self Care Challenge. As she asked me to tag her to let her see my posts to her challenge (and educate me on how), it became obvious Your whispers weren’t just for me. So I’m continuing to trust You. Including with gaillovesgodspoetry for the poetry You have allowed me to write.
2 Pieces of Advice for New Bloggers:
1. If you want feedback and interaction with other bloggers make sure to tag, and make your like and comment buttons available on every page… including your About and Contact page.
2. Blog about what YOU want to blog about, when you want to blog (or not), and as much as you want to blog (or not). It’s YOUR blog!
Congratulations to the nominees! Lord, may You continue to bless each one and their blog! Thank you, Lovely Anita! Congrats to you on both of your awards… the Blogger Recognition Award and ranking in the Top 75 Happiness Blogs on Feedspot. God, may Your showers of blessings continue to pour over her pages!
*Disclaimer! This is extremely long! 56 Questions answered! Please know I am not trying to be pretentious, pushy, do better than anyone, or any of the things I sometimes hear when striving to keep God first everything in my life. If you are not interested in scripture, you may want to click away now. If you don’t have time to read it all… I understand! Having said that… Lovely A, it felt like a very diligent bible study challenge! It made a very laborious work so exciting to do! I had fun! ❤ If anyone wants to check out her post Find Out Who You Are (56 Questions), it can actually make you think. God loves you!*
PS… #25 was so many verses to choose from Psalm 119 that I shared with you a link to a friend’s friend who does music that is like reading the whole chapter. I love it!
1.Do I believe that everything is meant to be, or do I think that things just tend to happen for no reason at all? “I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.” – Ecclesiastes 3:17
2.Do I forgive and forget? Or do I forgive, but always remember? “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” – Ephesians 4:31-32
3.If I could give one piece of advice to everyone in the world, what would it be? “For God so loved you, that He gave His only Son for you, that if you believe in His Son you will not perish, but that you will have everlasting life.” – John 3:16 paraphrased for you to know God loves you so much!
4.Do I think that people can change, or that they just are who they are?
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” – 2 Corinthians 5:17
5.Would I consider myself to be religious or spiritual? Both are good, but I consider myself to be His. “If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” – James 1:26-27 “All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirits.” – Proverbs 16:2
6.Would my 10-year-old self be proud of me? My 10 year old self would not know who I am. She doesn’t exist. “Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.” – Proverbs 13:10
7.What do I think is the best revenge?
“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” – Romans 12:19
8.What would I change about myself? “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.” – Romans 7:18
9.On the flip side, what would I never change about myself?
“Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” – 2 Corinthians 12:10
10.Can I confidently say that the path I am on in life right now is the one that I (and no one else) would want for myself?
“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
11.It’s the year 2040. Where am I? In the future. 😉 “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” – Matthew 6:34
12.Am I a morning person or a night owl? “I will bless the Lord, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.” – Psalm 16:7
13.Would I consider myself to be more creative or more logical? “Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.” – Job 13:3
14.What could I do to be a healthier person?
“Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you.” – Acts 27:34
15.If time and money were no object, what would I do with my life? “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21
16.Is it all about luck or hard work? “Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.” – Proverbs 13:11
17.Should I live with no regrets, or learn from my mistakes? “Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.” – James 5:19-20
18.How would I describe myself in only five words?
“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” – Galatians 2:20
19.Family first, true or false? “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.” – 1 Timothy 5:8
20.Can discipline be learned?
“Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” – Hewbrews 12:11
21.Am I as loyal as I think I am? “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” – Romans 12:3
22.How could people be a better friend to me? “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.’ – Proverbs 18:24
23.How could I be a better friend to people? “Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.” – Mark 5:19
24.Is conformity a good thing or a bad thing? “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” – Romans 12:2
25.What is a book I read that completely changed my outlook on life? “It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.” – Psalm 119:71 “My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word.” – Psalm 119:81 “O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.” – Psalm 119:97 “How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” – Psalm 119:103 “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” – Psalm 119:105 “Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross: therefore I love thy testimonies.” – Psalm 119:119 “Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way” – Psalm 119:128
26.How can I be generous when I am not rich? “If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well.” – James 2:8
27.How can I improve dialogue and communication with those I deeply disagree with? “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” – Ephesians 4:29
28.If I had to make a list of my top 10 most important values, what would they be? The Ten Commandments I.Thou shalt have no other gods before me… II.Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image… thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them… III. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain. IV.Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy… V.Honour thy father and thy mother… VI.Thou shalt not kill. VII.Thou shalt not commit adultery. VIII.Thou shalt not steal. IX. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. X. Thou shalt not covet… any thing that is thy neighbour’s. Exodus 20:3-17 Summary
29.What are my deal breakers for romantic relationships? “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” – 2 Corinthians 6:14
30.Do I love myself? “If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.” – John 5:31 “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” – Acts 20:24
31.If not, how could I find a way to love myself? “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. ” – 1 John 4:10-11 “As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.” – John 15:9 “For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.” – Psalm 139:13-14 “How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.” – Psalm 139:17-18
32.Is trust always earned, or is it a given until it’s broken? “Judge me, O Lord; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the Lord; therefore I shall not slide.” – Psalm 26:1 “He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he.” – Proverbs 16:20
33.If I could apologize to one person, who would it be? “For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.” – Psalm 38:18 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” – 1 John 1:9
34.And what would I say to that person “that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” – Romans 10:9-10
35.If I was able to say one thing to my ex, what would I say? “Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.” – Ecclesiastes 7:10 “Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.” – Isaiah 43:18
36.If I could have one person apologize to me, who would it be? “For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.” – 1 Peter 2:19
37.And what would I want them to say? “Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?” – 1 Corinthians 6:7
38.Do I ghost people or do I give them a reason for breaking ties? “Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly? Wherefore then hast thou brought me forth out of the womb? Oh that I had given up the ghost, and no eye had seen me! But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall not escape, and their hope shall be as the giving up of the ghost. Who is he that will plead with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall give up the ghost. But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?” – Job 3:11, 10:18, 11:20, 13:19, 14:10
39.Do I believe in karma? “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will… in whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:” – Ephesians 1:3-5, 11
40.How do I show I am angry? “Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness” – 2 Peter 3:11 “Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:1 “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving… that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” – Colossians 4:1-6 “for the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.” – Luke 12:12
41.In my opinion, what are my greatest strengths? “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” – Philippians 4:13
42.In my opinion, what are my greatest weaknesses? “For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.” – 2 Corinthians 13:4
43.If I could go anywhere in the world, where would I go? “If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.” – John 12:26
“But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.” – John 14:31
44.Is work-life balance important to me? “Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.” – Proverbs 16:3
45.Is family important to me “Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.” – Proverbs 17:6
46.Is friendship important to me? “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” – John 15:13
47.Is romantic love important to me? “My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.” – Song of Solomon 2:10
48.If I could have one talent, what would it be? “My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.” – Psalm 45:1
49.What is one part of my life I miss and why? “And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” – Mark 10:17 Because I miss running… for exercise… for work… for the joy of it… daily… but more importantly I miss kneeling in reverence to my Lord and Savior at the altar. (Side note: I miss having a real altar to kneel at! Not steps! Praise the Lord for the last one I know of, should I ever be blessed to be able to kneel again… especially to linger with my Jesus as long as I want! ) ❤
50.What are elements from that time I could incorporate into my present? “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” – Isaiah 40:31
51.Do actions really speak louder than words? ” What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” – James 2:14-26
52.Am I happy with my career? “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” – Matthew 6:33
53.If not, what could I change about my job to be happier and more satisfied? “But godliness with contentment is great gain.” – 1 Timothy 6:6
54.What’s more important to me, self respect or being right? “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.” – Proverbs 22:1
55.Do I learn from the past or live in the past? “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.” – 1 Corinthians 9:24 “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 3:14
56.When I die, what do I want to be remembered for? “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.” – Hebrews 11:5 “Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.” – Matthew 26:13
Dearest Lord, you make my heart go awwww! ❤ I am overwhelmed with your unending display of love… in such God given friends around the world! You make my ❤ smile 🙂 !!
Heyy I have nominated you for The Sunshine Blogger Award. I feel that you deserve this & bring sunshine to my life ❤ Would love to see your reply-blog. Anita xo
Please bless my sister Anita! Let her know the same persistent love that only you can give! And let her know how much love she sends me from you!! Amen!
Lovely A, I just don’t know the words to let you know how much God uses you and your generous heart! He allows bloggers/friends like you and so many others to make WordPress feel like one ❤ ❤ HUGE LOVEFEST ❤ ❤ … pouring God’s love all over the pages! Thank you! Me and God love you! ❤
Friends, as I am so touched by this Sunshine Award, I want you to know I am just as excited for Anita of Discovering Your Happiness to receive her Sunshine Award! PTL and Congrats to you too, Lovely A! Your blog brightens the day of thousands who are constantly reading that they might “discover their happiness!” And it brightens mine too! God uses you mightily to shine His light!
The Rules: 1. Thank the blogger who nominated you. 2. Answer the 11 questions asked. 3. Nominate 11 other blogs and ask 11 new questions for them. 4. Finally, list the rules and include the Sunshine Blogger Award logo in the post.
Questions for Me: 1. Do you have any big travel plans coming up? Nope. No big travel plans, but I have been craving to go on a very long ride, just to enjoy the windows down, the breeze in my hair, and the quiet voice of God speaking to me all kinds of His mysteries from giving Him that time alone. ❤ Lord willing! 2. Where would be the one place you could travel to?
While Australia is just a dream, I guess a neighboring county or two would do. 3. What is your dream job? Writing for God what He gives me, as He gives it, encouraging others, and making money to support myself, my family, tithe generously back to God (First!), support missionaries, evangelists, different humanitarian groups and churches helping during tragedies, helping churches, and much more is that… a dream! I’m not holding my breath, BUT…
– – – For with God nothing shall be impossible. – Luke 1:37 LKV – – –
4. Could you survive without social media? Of course. There would be missing communicating with friends and family, and meeting new friends… sharing God’s love around the world. Praise God for social media! 5. What do you have planned for the Christmas season? To celebrate Jesus as much as possible! Happy Birthday, Jesus! I love you! ❤ 6. Share a good Samaritan experience you’ve undergone?
Years back walking home from bankruptcy court several miles in heels, I stopped half way at Taco Bell to rest. A stranger who knew me offered a ride home. Turned out our kids were in school together. Even while hauling a landscaping trailer, he took time from his busy day to drive curvy backroads to take me home! God is so good! 7. Have you ever broken a bone? Yes. The worst being shattering my right wrist as a kid in a bike race. I won! 😉 8. If you could change one thing from your past, what would it be? Only one?? Anything I’ve ever done to hurt or offend anyone else, especially God! 9. Coffee or hot chocolate? Hot Chocolate 🙂 sorry don’t like coffee at all. 10. What are some of your 2018 goals?
To keep God 1st no matter what! Doing whatever He hopes of me! 11. What is a goal you have achieved?
By the grace of God, graduating from college… twice.
My Questions for the Nominees:
1. How are you doing?
2. How are you and Jesus getting along? (It’s okay to be honest)
3. What did you last blog about?
4. What season is it where you live?
5. What encourages you to be positive?
6. Do you know someone waiting to be nominated?
7. What do you like to do on the weekend?
8. What’s your favorite song right now?
9. Have you ever read the entire Bible?
10. How do you feel to know you make others smile?
(anyone I nominated makes me smile! and God!)
11. Do you know how much God loves you? Because He does! 🙂
Congratulations to the nominees! I am so excited for you. As always, please do not feel obligated to participate, and do at your convenience if you do. I know some of you will not be “passing it on,” but I do these prayerfully and each person listed the Lord led me to let you know you are appreciated for the positivity and inspiration that you put into your blog! I added extra names because I know others wait for their first nomination.
Thank you again, Lovely A! You know you brighten my day! If the Lord ever boards me a plane for Australia, I will head your way! 🙂 Thanks for giving me another opportunity to share with others the blessings God sends me through you! ❤
Hi Guys! Just wanted to share with all of you who came along my journey of posting 30 true aspects about myself that you may not know… the AWARD from our dearest Fatima aka Splendor In Embers! Praise the Lord for using her to challenge me… in many ways!! Wanting to encourage someone I love and care about blessed and encouraged me!
Along this journey, the Lord used His whispers, His nudges, and His many resources for encouraging me! Lovely A and her Self Care Challenge was a part of those resources! There are others I can’t mention, but you know who you are. Thank You for letting God use you to help me “fly” within God’s gift of life. And what would I do without InnerManTheatre… my patient son for his feedback and tech support (and Anita!).
I praise Him for each of you who took to read (while patiently waiting for me to learn my way), for reaffirming His whispers (with your likes and follows) to be meant for more than just myself. Your comments allowed God to fill my cup with blessings. And the Awards! So unexpected! All crowns to lay at His feet! God bless you, Lovely A!
My Dearest Fatima, How grateful I am to God for you! For your challenge! For your heart. Please know I am praying for you and your precious family as often as God allows. You’ve always been dear to our family! You ARE family! Thank you for my AWARD!
If you are interested about this Challenge, you might be delightfully surprised to know that you do not have to wait for someone to nominate you, as I have read some of you have for quite some time. You only have to accept and post. See for yourself her 3 rules posted here. Praying for each of you! God loves you! ❤
Thank you, Miss Lovely, for letting God using you to send me such kind thoughts on such a lovely day! How fitting! 😉 You are as lovely as the wishes you send out with every post you make on Discovering Your Happiness! I enjoy watching God help you grow into such a wonderful young lady! I am blessed to call you friend! My Croatian Australian sister in Christ! Thank you for my bright valentine in this Sunshine Blogger Award! 🙂
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 
“His countenance was like lightning,
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.
God, You have surprised me with a new award… the 
My Dearest Lord and Savior, how your many kindnesses and thoughtfulness continue. We are in a season to celebrate YOU, yet YOU give and give…. cheer and cheer. You already gave me treasured friendship in Lovely A… my Australian sister across the waters. Sisters from different sides of the world, and sisters in Christ from the same Father. You gift her with helping others in 
I was actually 
Hi Guys! Just wanted to share with all of you who came along my journey of posting 30 true aspects about myself that you may not know… the AWARD from our dearest Fatima aka 
gaillovesgod 