A little late is better than never…
How far will you travel to seek your heart desire?
How deep will you search?
How high will you climb?
How treacherous will the adventure become?
Are you willing to go?
Life can be as fulfilling, heartbreaking, thrill-seeking or peaceful as you want to make it.
Live with no regrets.
Survive with no remorse.
Let your heart soar to new heights and rediscover something new to you!
If a man dying underneath the blended knee of a cop doesn’t make you heartbroken, we need to re-evaluate.
If a cop dying underneath the violent barrel of a another man’s gun doesn’t make you cry, we need to re-evaluate.
If a man dying underneath the treacherous hands of another’s man’s hands doesn’t make you sad, we need to re-evaluate.
If a man’s reputation dying beneath the slanderous words of another man doesn’t make you somber, we need to re-evaluate.
If a man’s wellbeing dying beneath the murderous actions of another man’s hate doesn’t grieve your heart, we need to re-evaluate.
It is not the color of one exalted above the other.
Racism does not come in only one dark shade or another.
It can be as black as a shadow that has never seen light or as white as sunlight that has never known darkness.
If you only proclaim it comes from one group or another, we need to re-evaluate.
May we all remember, media spews only their personal biases, and our reposts only refuel their cause.
May truth be revealed to our hearts as we each turn back to HIS ways rather than our own.
May justice reign as we call it out from ALL sides, rather than just one.
May mercy prevail as we seek His heart instead than our own.
May we all re-evaluate our hearts, our thoughts, our actions.
And may we return to His cause and not “theirs” … whomever you choose “theirs” to be.
(*note: grammatical errors of “you/we” are not accidental)
Proverbs 6:16-19, “These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:
A proud look,
A lying tongue,
Hands that shed innocent blood,
A heart that devises wicked plans,
Feet that are swift in running to evil,
A false witness who speaks lies,
And one who sows discord among brethren.”
Isaiah 43:1-3
But now, this is what the Lord says—
he who created you, Jacob,
he who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.
For I am the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior…”
Isaiah 43:16-21
This is what the Lord says—
He who made a way through the sea,
a path through the mighty waters,
who drew out the chariots and horses,
the army and reinforcements together,
and they lay there, never to rise again,
extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.
The wild animals honor me,
the jackals and the owls,
because I provide water in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland,
to give drink to my people, my chosen,
the people I formed for myself
that they may proclaim my praise.”
My feelings for you are all bottled up inside
The anger, the pain, the hatred, I so try to hide
I question my motives, my sanity, my right
You seemed so loving, never knew you’d take flight
I drown the sorrows, the fears deep in the bottle
I cry buckets while your smile I want to throttle
I doubt my rightness, my justice, my defense
You appear so pure, resentment doesn’t make sense
I cast the bottle out to the farthest sea
I dredge the shore seeking solace to be
I wonder my blame, my guilt, my freedom
You presume release, to my heart you say come
My thoughts of you have sailed with the ships
The forgiveness, the peace, the praise is on my lips
I stand firm in my liberty, my love, my claim
I have long forgotten you, my rejoicing in His reign
Penned – MG – 2/29/20
Happy Valentine’s Day! 💗
I don’t care who you ARE
Or
Where you LIVE
Or
Who you LOVE
Or
WHO you Hate
And
It doesn’t matter if you’re MARRIED
Or
If you’re NOT…
CHOOSE to be HAPPY today!
Choose to BREATHE and SMILE and LAUGH.
It can be a FRIDAY FUN DAY no matter where you are, who you are, who’s around or where you’re going!
Today is a GIFT. Receive it and ENJOY IT.
It’s all about PERSPECTIVE!
*A little late to posting today. My apologies.
I saw this picture the other day, and it struck a chord in my soul. Sometimes, we work hard to hide the scars we’ve obtained through the valleys of life. Many times, a scar leaves us with the memory of what is broken and marred. Often times, we try to cover the scar with a smile, a laugh or a seeking to remain in the shadows, thinking somehow, if the scar is never seen, the wounds and the pain will magically disappear as well.
I have found this statement to be so very true. “Never be ashamed of a scar. It simply means you were stronger than whatever tried to hurt you.”
Growth, strength and healing is all in perspective. Let truth be your guide. Let love be your light, and let hope be your destiny despite the scars with which you travel.
Hold your head high and embrace those things that remind you of the struggle, of the wrestling for the next breath, and always remember, your scars don’t make you a victim, unless you choose for them to be.
You converse with me
But no one is standing there.
You laugh and tell me the stories
But no one is smiling.
You rewrite the history to fit your look
But no one hears the news.
You embrace my form and shed a tear
But no one sees your charades.
You reach once more for my hand
But my heart weeps no more.
Penned – MG – 10/21/19
Sometimes, I think we get so consumed with the agendas we keep and the responsibilities placed upon us that we forget who we are. We step into the whirlwind of calendars, appointments, wishes and desires, and we forget our purpose, our progress and our potential. We simply lay down who we were meant to be and pick up all the expectations of someone else.
STOP IT! LET IT GO! REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE!
Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t think so. In this modern culture, Christians are relegated to being these hyper, over-the-top, radical, nonsense-speaking idiots simply because we do not want to conform to the liberal mindset of the world. Just because the louder voices among us hate who we are doesn’t mean we should listen to them. Just because those voices threaten to disagree or spew ridicule doesn’t mean we should lay down every bit of goodness and righteousness simply because they can’t see.
Who gave them that kind of authority? Who released their judgement as right and true? Unfortunately, WE DID. We’ve got to STOP!
We were never called to be like this world. We were never destined to yield our beliefs and our standards to the crowd who disagrees. They oppose our very being, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t exist.
We need to stop listening to the lies of hatred and start reading again. We need to shut off the news and the media and get back to our prayer closets and our houses of worship. We’ve stayed in the mainstream so long, we’ve forgotten who we’re called to be. We’ve sought after man’s approval for far too long, and we’ve neglected Whose affirmation matters most: His. We need to return to our first live and forsake our worldly adorations.
Does that mean we become hermits, shut off from the world, never listening, never speaking, never approaching the differences around us? NO. Does that mean we become relics, hovering over our Bibles, never engaging in intellectual conversations, never debating our faith, never communicating the gospel to those who dispute our every move? NO. Does that mean we become hate-filled and ridiculously unapproachable, “preachy,” and “religious minded.” NO.
It simply means, we return to Him, and allow His light to shine once more. It means we remember our purpose, our calling, our destiny. It is not to settle into this world nor the things of it. It means we recollect our history, our heritage and our home, and we seek to live in Him and not of them! It means we go out, take this story He has given us and all we’ve learned of Him and share it, sprinkle it, “seed” it into the ground He places before us. It means we recollect those promises He’s given, we reminisce those moments of victory He has delivered, we relive those miracles He’s brought to our everyday life, and we share them with this world around us.
Stop trying to fit in and follow, and start standing out and LEAD!
“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.” 1 John 4:4-6
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20
“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” John 10:10
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9
Sometimes, you just need a bath…
Wash away the muck and mire of life’s journey. Purify. Purge. Expunge.
Blot out the ugly and the waste of living experiences. Scour. Sanitize. Refine.
Wipe off and polish up for a new beginning.
Fridays are a good day to accomplish a good cleansing. It’s the end of the work week, right before the free weekend.
Great time to make anew.
How ’bout it? Are you ready to let it all go?
Have you ever felt like you were hit by a Mack Truck? Maybe you’re not familiar with the term. Growing up in a rural community in Northwest Florida, we used this term anytime we felt like a sickness had just taken hold of us, or maybe when someone had had a rough night of sleep (or sometimes, even with an alcohol binge). We’d say, “I feel like I’ve been hit by a Mack Truck!” Or “You look like you’ve been hit by a Mack Truck!” 😂
Now that I’m older, I’ve still used the phrase from time to time; however, once I realized what a Mack Truck really was, I’m kind of thankful that was just a phrase. For surely, being hit by a Mack Truck in reality would leave one much worse than what I have felt when using the phrase. When I’ve claimed this destructive weight has hit my life, I suppose, I’m almost whining in comparison to what it would really feel like for that 5-ton vehicle to slam into me.
Sometimes, we do overstate our life conditions, don’t we? Yet, when we’re in the middle of the storm, it’s often hard to see beyond the tornadic winds we are experiencing. So, if you’re feeling down today, or maybe you’re even feeling like a Mack Truck has invaded your solitude, just hold on a minute, and let the chaos pass.
You can make it through, if you’ll just not give up. If you quit now, you’ve let that 5-ton machine win, but it doesn’t have to end that way! Get up! Even if you have to crawl to the curb and signal for help. Sometimes, you may have to lean on someone to help you through rather than being “Mr./Mrs. Independent.” That’s ok, cuz we’ve all been there… both with the Mack Truck and with making it through with the help of a friend!😉
Scripture Musings
Writing is my midnight train going anywhere… Thanks for the Journey -hdtj
God love me thoughts and prayers Life
Fascinating and engaging book reviews and encouragement you'll want to read.
🍀 “Be careful of what you know. That’s where your troubles begin” 🌷 Wade in The 3 Body Problem ~ Cixin Liu
https://linktr.ee/tatterhood
living to encourage by grace
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.
Capturing the world one frame at a time
Navigating parenthood with a spouse with chronic illness.
Checking out the weird old stories that inspired our new ones
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!
tourist spot travel delicious food
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!
Pen to paper
Connecting Inner voice to External World
Keep on Going - Keep On Growing
Reading, writing, reactions, movies, scary, publishing, daily motivation
On the Way to Wholeness
clever bears think of everything.
the grizzle grist mill 