Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do,forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
It’s so true that there are many things of which we have no control of our choices.
Decade in which we are born.
Parents. Birth location. Upbringing.
Physical attributes. Talents. IQ.
These things are given to us, and we have no say.
Yet, we do have a say in how we respond, in how we handle, and in how we carry on once we have them.
And this choosing results in our character.
Which is also a choice.
And it also will become our voice.
How we respond to the things we cannot control will determine our promotions, our successes, and our influences.
We are never a victim.
Being a victim is a choice. And that choice brings about our character.
When we choose to hate these things out of our control, or maybe just fight against them in a rage that wounds all those around us, it shows our character as rude, spiteful and selfish.
When we choose to embrace these things out of our control as chains, and we are just a martyr for the cause, or maybe we just can’t do any better because of all that has befallen us, it shows our character as weak, whiny and self centered.
Yet, when we choose to accept these things out of our control, fight against the things that would try to inhibit us, and become overcomers inspite of the pain, the turmoil and the difficulties, it shows our character as bold, courageous and focused.
And when we take this tenacious attitude a step further and begin to show others how to overcome their own obstacles, it shows our character as loving, giving, and outward seeking.
We can be a hero or a zero.
The choice is ours.
What will you choose today?
Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
Romans 8:37
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Romans 8:31
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28
Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
We can walk gracefully forward in age, or we can fight it, rebel against it, and revel in our youth until it is no more.
We can walk gracefully toward old age, or we can lament and regret all the days gone by.
Walking gracefully into age is not to mean you have to become decrepit and feeble before your time.
It doesn’t even mean to halt all living and die where you stand.
Aging gracefully can be beautiful when done right.
Aging gracefully is actually fighting for what you have with fervor and zeal.
Aging gracefully is grasping reality by the hand and twirling it into a spin that becomes a majestic waltz.
Aging gracefully is letting the tears roll on while breathing in deep the peace that surpasses understanding and the merciful love of eternity.
Aging gracefully is laughing with joy at the days ahead because you are secure in Who holds your tomorrow.
So, dance the dance until it becomes your life.
Embrace the years and savor those precious moments while letting the bad slip through your fingers like sand.
Let the goodness overwhelm you as the sweetness of His glory bursts forth through the pain.
Age gracefully, my friend.
Little ones are watching, and they follow closely behind.
…………
In tribute to my grandmother who was a beauty and aged gracefully till 94. May I follow closely in her footsteps, as well as all who knew her through the years…
…………
She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
(Deleted GIF because it was corrupted and changing other blogs.)
I saw this little gif today, and it made me think how easily our perspective can change.
NOPE can change to HOPE
With one little shift in a letter.
Something broken can be healed with one little dot of super glue.
A rainy day can become sunny with one little wind surge.
The altered state can seem simple, small, and even insignificant,
But to the NOPE, it becomes HOPE.
To the broken, it becomes mended.
To the drenched, it becomes dry.
To the hopeless, it becomes a tomorrow.
Let your walk be realigned.
Let your vision be refocused.
Let your speech be rearranged.
Let your mind be rallied.
Let your heart be restored.
Love can overwhelm you.
Hope can consume you.
And you’ll never be the same.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
To be honest, I think I must just like music. Haha.
When I get the question, “What’s your favorite genre of music?” I want to return the question with, “What’s my mood today? What’s the season, or what’s something new?”
I might be better of to answer what music do I NOT like because that might narrow the field a little more.
To listen consistently, I can’t really handle the screamo-metal genre. And even that, my son has introduced a song or two that I really like. However for the most part, that genre is probably the one with which I can’t really hang for long.
And maybe Techno isn’t one of my favorites. Still, there’s some techno tunes of the 80s that still get me moving and singing along at the top of my lungs when they come on.
And I guess, I’d have to say if there’s a genre that often turns me off, not for the music but more for the vulgar language used, is today’s culture of Rap. Now, don’t get me wrong. I’ve listened to plenty, as our oldest aspired to be a rap artist when he was younger. So, I’ve listened ti my fat share, and if you’re not cussing or talking dirty, I’ll give it a good listen. Unfortunately, too many of today’s rap artists have taken the cheap route of filling their lyrics with more F-bombs and bedroom brawls than they have good lyrics and story telling.
But give me Easy Listening, Southern Rock, Hard Rock, Classical, Acoustic, Indie, Southern Gospel, Blues, Bluegrass, Alternative, Christian, Christian Rock, Classic Rock, Jazz, Big Band, Folk, Celtic, Pop, Rhythm & Blues, Hip Hop, Soul, Punk, Reggae, Disco, Ambient, Latin, Progressive, New Wave, Dubstep, Vocal, Choir, Rock & Roll… (did I miss any?) Y
ou name it. I’ll give it a listen.
I just love music. It’s melody that soothes the soul. I love the quote our Choir leader tells us, “Music is what feelings sound like.”
And something I love even more than man made music is the music of nature. The chimes of the breeze through the branches; the thunder of the clouds upon the mountains; the roar of the oceans upon the sand, or the chirp of the newborn baby birds calling for their mother. These are the beauty that will unfold in God’s creation, if we will but take a moment to listen.
A good song can uplift the broken heart. A good lyric can soothe a weary soul. A good tune can wipe away tears and being a smile.
And a well placed melody can write a book to express the deepest emotions that words just can’t describe.
So, turn up the volume just a little and tune into what someone is trying to tell you.
Let your words be few and your notes be many.
And let the harmony take you to places you’ve never been.
For you shall go out with joy, And be led out with peace; The mountains and the hills Shall break forth into singing before you, And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree, And instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree; And it shall be to the Lord for a name, For an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.”
Isaiah 55:12-13
His voice was like the sound of many waters; and the earth shone with His glory.
Is freedom being able to “do what I want when I want and however I want?”
Is freedom having an absence of confinement and restrictions?
Is freedom being able to speak, work, and live without rules and boundaries?
Truly, in this day and age, freedom seems to be negotiable to the person or parties making those decisions.
However, because we are children of God, our truth doesn’t change with culture nor with man.
Our truth comes from the Word of God; so, when seeking the definition of freedom, we must seek what God tells us is true.
Jesus said, in John 8:36, “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”
Then, Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 3:17, “Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”
And in Galatians 5:1, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”
Christ has given us a clear picture of what freedom is and what He has meant it to be in our lives: true freedom can only be found in the redemption fo Jesus Christ!
So, if you are a child of the King today, YOU ARE FREE!
If you are saved by the Blood of the Lamb, and your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, YOU ARE FREE!!
Let us rejoice in His freedom!
Let us praise Him for the great things He has done!
Let us raise our hands and lift our voices with a grateful heart for the freedom He has brought us both within our spiritual lives and within this country that we live because we are free to worship Him today!
I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything.
My journey didn’t stop with mere time travel or writing; it led me to become one of the most sought-after empaths, a soulful psychic who reads the hidden depths of the human spirit. I’ve been blessed—or perhaps burdened—with an ability that allows me to feel the emotions of people from every corner of time.
I am a licensed psychologist based in Greece. My love for housekeeping has inspired me to create this blog about home management and family relationships. I hope you enjoy reading as much as I enjoyed writing!
Dedicated to movie nerdom, nostalgia, and escape. In the late 90s, I worked at Blockbuster Video where they let me take home two free movies a day. I caught up on the classics and reviewed theatrical releases for Denver 'burbs newspapers and magazines. Today, while raising two young, beautiful daughters with my amazing wife, I look forward to anything rated R and not Bluey. Comments and dialogue encouraged!
the grizzle grist mill 