What is the most important thing to carry with you all the time?
The most important thing I can carry with me at all times is peace.
But peace can be hard to come by in a culture that is full of chaos, in people who are full of flaws, and certainly in a self that can be up and down like a yo yo.
Material possessions can come and go. This world cannot be counted in for my security.
People whom you thought were dependable can let you down, both intentionally and not.
Family and friends are wonderful, but they are still people, still human.
They’re not meant to be my stability.
Anything of this world can fail tomorrow. Nothing is truly perfect or reliable.
But I have found One.
There is One who is ever faithful, ever dependable, and ever stable in all His ways.
Jesus.
Some hate Him. Some love Him. Some choose not to know Him.
But I have found He is all I need.
He has peace beyond our imagination that will surpass our circumstances.
He has love that is unconditional and will sustain us in spite of ourselves.
He has joy beyond our emotions that will consume us regardless of our environment.
And all that He has is free. It costs nothing. It requires no work. It demands no sacrifice.
All we have to do is believe.
…that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For “whoever calls on the name of theLord shall be saved.”
Romans 10:9-13
You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.
What change, big or small, would you like your blog to make in the world?
Immediately when I read the question, what change would you like your blog to make in the world, I thought of that old song, “I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing.”
I hadn’t thought of that song in ages.
If you’re a child of the 70s or 80s, you might be hearing the jingle chime in your head right now. (You’re welcome. Lol.)
If you’re younger, you’ll get the pleasure of hearing it in the video below.
I’d not actually want my blog to buy the world a coke or to teach it to sing, per se, but rather I’d like to convey those kinds of feelings and thoughts to all those who take the time to read something in the Grizzle Grist Mill.
“All is grist for the mill.” — a Proverb
I chose that old Proverb as the theme of my blog because I believe that’s just what it is. I have a lot of thoughts, words, stories and even strong beliefs I share here, but in the greater scheme of life, they may just be as sand on the seashore, or grist for the grinding mill.
This blog may not change the world. It may not even change a nation, or a race, or even a whole gathering of people. I’d love for that to be the case, but I’m not foolish enough to believe my words can be that impactful; although, every true writer has that dream.
Yet, if something I’ve written might leave you with a feeling of hope, of love, of joy, and of peace, then I will believe they have been worth something.
If these words might create a memory to hold onto, or a thought of things to come that you can run toward, or maybe a faith that keeps you coming back for more, then I will know I’ve done a good job.
If these letters converged together by pen and paper (or rather by computer and keys these days), if they mean anything to you, the reader, if they make an impression in any way, then I will consider my time, my effort, and my desire to make a difference can be effective, even if it’s only in my little corner of the world.
These heart notes may be as small as the grains of sand, but when piled up in one place, they might just make a beautiful sand dune to be enjoyed or an intricately designed sand castle that will capture a picture in your memory for a lifetime…
It’s funny. I never remembered the beginning of the song until I replayed it today…
In that alternate universe, I will not grow old. And in this current life, hitting half a century this year has been one of both joy and a slight irritation.
In that alternate reality, I will not feel pain, sorrow, or grief. I will not deal with disappointment, aggravation or even the threat of disenchantment.
In that new world, there will be no anger, no hatred, no violence, no death.
Can you imagine?
The tears will be wiped from our eyes, and we will never experience agony again. We will never feel heartbreak, regret or brokenness.
Everything will be made new.
Everything will be healed.
Everything will be refreshed, revitalized, restored to it’s beginning.
I will have no failures, no blemish, no flaw.
I will be made perfect, and you will, too.
Can you even imagine?
Oh, won’t it be grand?
And it will all last for eternity.
And to top it off, it won’t be an alternative.
It will be true reality.
You want to come?
Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.”
Revelation 21:1-5
And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.
Here’s a list of 30 things that make me happy. Some are in specific order but some are not. You can probably guess which ones are which…
1. My Savior, Jesus Christ
2. My husband
3. Holding his hand and saying, I Love You.
4. My boys, both of them.
5. Hugging our boys.
6. Family
7. Friends who stay and stand the rest of time.
8. Worship music that lifts the soul, connects me to Him or just reminds me Whose I am.
9. Coffee, flavored, with cream
10. The little things often more than the big things.
11. A rosebush blooming.
12. A walk in the woods.
13. Sunsets and waterfalls.
14. A hike up a mountain.
15. Having a hope in an eternal life in eternity.
16. Walking along the beach.
17. My cat purring and wanting to be loved.
18. Watching someone give their heart to Jesus.
19. Watching someone’s life being transformed for good.
20. Giving orphans Christmas presents.
21. Holding a sweet baby, no matter the age.
22. Preaching and seeing that someone actually connected with Him.
23. Listening to our almost grown boys talk about God, life, and things they will do, and realizing they have made good choices.
24. Hearing my husband and sons tell me they love me.
25. Having coffee with a good friend.
26. Cooking a good meal or delicious dessert for my family and knowing they enjoyed it.
27. Traveling to distant lands, flying in a plane, or just taking a road trip.
28. Antiquing in a small town.
29. Having deep conversation, light hearted fun, or anything in between with my love.
30. Being able to bring a smile to someone else.
There’s a ton more I’m sure I could share. And probably tomorrow, I’ll look back over this and realize I’ve forgotten to list something oh so very important.
So, please don’t judge. Just enjoy. And maybe take a moment to think of your own listing.
I wonder if you can now tell me your 30 things that bring such joy?
Too many people claim they’re gonna live better, gonna do better, gonna act better, but they’re still holding onto that which brings them down.
Some assert they’re gonna eat right, but the cabinets are filled with junk, and the menu is filled with fast food and calories.
Some proclaim they’re gonna get fit, but the weights gather dust, the shoes stay in the box, and the gym membership rolls through a year with the door never opened.
Some declare they’re gonna speak right, yet the music is turned to trash, the podcasts are filled with perversion, and the languages are covered with cussing and crudeness.
Some affirm they’re going to act better, yet the friends stay the same, the words ramble on with no change, and the actions are as redundant as the clock hand.
If you desire change, it must be proven within.
It you desire an alternate path, it must first be evident in your walk, then the journey will follow.
If you’re still entertaining the demons from which you claim to have been freed, then your receptivity will be the burden on your own shoulders.
It will be the nightmares of your own dreams.
Wake up!
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.
They claim we simply must be more kind, more loving, and more peaceful.
Yet, when love is proclaimed so elementary by pointing fingers at others and declaring what you must do,
I believe we are neglecting to look in the mirror at our own souls to see what we must do.
When kindness is demanded from others so readily, and it is said to be performed so smoothly,
I believe we are avoiding the reality that our flesh never truly desires to be gracious and kind.
No one is born good. We are not birthed in righteousness.
Our natural tendencies do not lend themselves to be like Christ without first dying to self.
If we long to truly be like Christ, we must remember He had a wilderness where He was hungry, tempted and had to be bold in faithfulness.
If we truly long to be like Christ, we must remember He had a Gethsemane where He was alone, discouraged and had to be brave in love.
If we long to truly be like Christ, we must remember He had a cross by which He was broken, disgraced and had to be truthful in kindness.
If we truly long to be like Christ, we must remember He had a Judas by whom He was betrayed, ambushed and had to be confrontation in peace.
When we profess others should be Christlike, we need to actually know who Christ is and what He did.
When we confess a desire to be Christlike, we need to actually recognize who our Savior is and what He did.
When we assert there is a common ground with a mighty King, we must acknowledge and embrace what must be crucified within us to become someone we are never capable of becoming
Without first, surrendering all to Him.
This is to be Christlike.
But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Philippians 3:9-11
And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
In our modern age, it seems there are becoming more and more polarizations to right and wrong.
Yet there also seems to be more twisting to truth than I believe I’ve ever seen before.
Too often, good is being called evil and evil is being called good.
Too often, those fighting for justice will de over and connive to achieve their purposed goal rather than seeking for truth no matter the cost.
And for certain circles, if you disagree with the relative truth they’ve created, you are relegated as hateful, rude, and even wicked.
Where is the logic in any of this?
Where is the sanity to this altered reality?
There is none.
And my statement of fact will send many into a tumultuous and relentless battle of words.
What happened to the days when truth was sought above all?
What happened to the lives who sought truth at all cost?
There has to be an absolute truth on which to hold firm.
And even if you disagree with that truth, it doesn’t make you a demon of the abyss.
And it doesn’t make you freakish, deformed, or necessarily of a nonredemptive evil.
It just simply makes you wrong.
An absolute truth does not move for modernity.
And absolute truth doesn’t change with new winds of doctrine, opinions or even popularity.
An absolute truth stands firm in it’s truth.
An absolute truth stands true through the tests of time.
And an absolute truth is a rock upon which you can fall and it will sustain you.
I have found this absolute truth.
I will hold on to it.
I will bind myself to it.
And I will run to it in torrential times.
It is a truth that with change you forever.
And unless you’ve found it as well, please know that when my absolute truth disagrees with you, it is not hatred I bring.
It is a love, a peace and a hope that will transform you, heart, mind, body and soul.
He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, A God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He.
Deuteronomy 32:4
The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
Psalm 18:2
Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!
As my husband would say, “Go and get off the asphalt!”
Too often, we stay in the grind, and we wonder why we have no peace.
We keep our head down, our hands busy, and our feet on flight.
We rush through the routine, seeking more and coming up empty.
But instead of continuing the toil, you’ll find that if you’ll stop to breathe, you’ll actually find more energy.
When you pause, reflect and take a minute, you’ll find the world can stop spinning.
So, go take a deep breath and soak in the mountain breeze.
Stand by a waterfall and remember it’s not about you.
Hike the hilltop and see that you can accomplish and win.
Walk beside a creek and find your laughter again.
Do some star gazing and be reminded of the Creator who causes your heart to beat.
These are never times wasted.
They are moments refreshed, restored and rejuvenated.
They are glimpses of peace and serenity.
Go get you some.
The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language Where their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.
Psalm 19:1-4
You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.
What strategies do you use to maintain your health and well-being?
There are probably several strategies I use to maintain my health and well-being and many more that I truly need to implement.
Like exercise and eating right. I need to do better in these categories. Eating is alright, and my saving grace is most likely that I do eat a lot of salads, try to make sure I’m getting good fiber, making better choices throughout the weeks, and I eat one big meal most days (lunch) and a protein bar at the other two meals. So, better than some, not as good as others.
However, I’d say the thing I work hardest at is keeping the right mental attitude, and that contributes to a ton of my well being.
Avoid stinkin’ thinkin’ for a good and prosperous life!
I am naturally introspective, and because I’m a reviewer (there are doers, dreamers and reviewers in life), I tend to automatically see what will go wrong in a given situation. Over the years, with the help of my “optimistic-big picture,-always seeing what can go right-amazing leader” husband, I have learned to not only see the problem but to also work hard to see the solution, too.
So, that’s what I do.
I strive to look at the good, the solutions and the HOPE in any given situation. I don’t always get it right, but I can proudly claim I am light years ahead of where I was 25 years ago.
A couple of things that help me do this:
1. Daily Scripture reading. Yeah. I read the Bible. For some, you’re already tuning me out because you think I’m going to get all religious on you. However, hold just a second, please, and just read a few more lines to see what I’m talking about…
I have found that the Bible is a great big story of incredibly amazing people, and it’s beyond interesting. It has mind-boggling miracles and mysteries, intriguing family dynamics and dysfunctions, and all kinds of battles and victories. It’s a great history book as well. And it’s certainly led me to a greater level of understanding, knowledge and insight. So, beyond the soul refreshing relationship I’ve found through knowing and talking to the ultimate Hero of the Book, it’s an incredible piece of literature. And it’s no wonder it’s been the #1 Best Seller for centuries. (I challenge you to just try reading it sometime.)
Then, the added bonus for my reliance of daily Scripture reading is that I find it gives me peace of mind, restores my joy, and fills me with more love than I could ever imagine. So, this would be the first and foremost reason for my daily reading plan of the Bible.
2. I strive to THINK right. Too many people will just let your mind wander all over the place, or maybe be consumed with so much reasoning that it lends itself to confusion, or even allow yourself to be so overwhelmed with thoughts of fear, anger, bewilderment or just plain chaos, doubt and confusion that you never have a clear thought about anything.
There’s another great book I’ve come across that has helped me learn to think right: Battlefield of the Mind by Joyce Meyer. She teaches you how to retrain your mind to have the right thoughts, no matter how messed up it might be right now. It’s a really good book! I highly recommend it.
3. I’ve learned to forgive and forgive again. This is huge. Unforgiveness can eat away at your health and well being before you know it. And when you’ve let unforgiveness fester so long that it’s turned into bitterness, it can literally destroy you!
I read an article once that talked about the scientific benefits and dangers of unforgiveness and negative thoughts. It described how these cause neurons, atoms (or something?… it’s been a while since I read it. Lol) or something in your brain to actually develop little spikes on them. And because your brain is the communication to the rest of the body, these little spikes start poking and prodding the various areas of your body and begin creating toxins and miscommunications, which then develop into sicknesses, diseases and even terminal illnesses.
Now, maybe someone wrote that article, and it was more theoretical than proven, I have no idea. And I really don’t care. It makes perfect sense, and it made a huge impact on me. So, I work hard to avoid harboring unforgiveness and negative thoughts.
4. I’ve embraced positivity and try to avoid negativity. (See explanation above.) I’m not always the best at this, but I try, and try, again. Being positive is really good for you mentally, physically, spiritually and emotionally. Plus, it’s so much more enjoyable to be around someone who’s more positive than negative.
Now, this doesn’t mean I always have my head in the clouds and never see anything bad. That’s honestly a dumb way to live, too. And I’m a bit too much of a realist to be that way. But if I can choose positivity, I will work really hard to do so.
5. I don’t do drama. I don’t do OPD (other people’s drama), and I don’t do my own. Drama just works everyone up for nothing. If you’re going to fight a battle, there better be spoils, and good ones. But when everything gets dramatic, and especially when it’s someone else’s problem and solution into which you are inserting yourself, there’s usually absolutely no good pay off. So, why do that to yourself?
6. I strive to keep peace in my heart. This doesn’t mean that there’s never a storm of life that I’m not walking through. It just means that I’ve learned to embrace peace no matter if the circumstances around me are chaotic or not.
And truthfully, I can’t do this in my own strength. None of it. Whether it’s being disciplined to read Scripture, thinking right, being forgiving, being positive, avoiding drama or seeking peace, I really don’t have the ability to maintain all of this by myself. I’m not passionate enough, strong enough or even wise enough to know how to do all that, but I’ve met Someone who works it all in me and through me: my loving Savior, Jesus.
He is truly my Rock, my Shelter, my Peace, my Provider, and my Source for all I need for health and well-being. And often, those who don’t have a relationship with Him will say, “That’s just a crutch.” And I have to admit. Yes. I have found I can’t even walk without holding onto His hand. For when I’m leaning on Him, I can do all things well…
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:13
You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.
Isaiah 26:3
The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I recently lost my grandmother of 94 years, and I miss her so. She and I were a lot alike in so many ways, and often growing up, she was more like a mother to me than a grandmother.
She taught me how a young lady should carry herself and how to really love your man.
She taught me that a gentle word really can turn away wrath and a loving touch can bring harmony to a chaotic world.
She taught me how to be classy and be okay with tradition, religion and “the way things have always been.”
She taught me that you’re never too old to try new things, as she traveled to Jamaica in a missions trip at 80 years old.
She taught me that if you set your mind to it, you can accomplish just about anything, as she lived by herself for almost 20 years in a great big bay front property after my grandfather’s death.
And the most important thing she ever taught me was that a relationship with Jesus Christ and with the joy of the Lord being your strength, you can live out your days with laughter and peacefulness, no matter what the storms of life might bring.
I am thankful for the heritage she offered, and I will gladly pick up the mantle she left. She may not have always done everything right, and she’d have never wanted you to call her the picture of perfection.
But if I can live my life with as much dignity, class, integrity, charm, joy, love and peace as she had, I will call myself a blessed woman.
What heritage are you grasping hold of today?
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
Proverbs 31:30-31
She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.
Proverbs 31:25
She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”
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 