This year you have been given is important.
The minutes are like a precious gem.
It’s rare and of much value, never to be seen again.
What will you do with it?
What will you make amends?
The clock will keep on ticking.
Time will never end.
He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.
Ecclesiastes 3:11
Make the most of today and enjoy it!
Glance back at yesterday and recognize it.
Don’t wallow in regrets, but correct, repent and make amends.
Look forward to tomorrow and acknowledge it.
Don’t jump ahead in what could be, but plan, pray, and prepare.
And live today. Be present. Be attentive. Be engaged.
Savor and reflect. Cherish and embrace.
Today is for the taking and the making.
Don’t miss it.
Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
Matthew 6:25-27
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Matthew 6:33-34
Can you believe 2023 is almost upon us?
The new year is nipping at our heels.
Looking back, I search for the value of what I have done.
Is it worthy? Is it useful? Is it enough?
Every season at this time, I question my intentions.
I begin analyzing and questioning.
Were my plans well executed or were they wasted?
Were the goals fulfilled and throughly accomplished?
The questions begin to flow like a river until I almost feel overwhelmed with the gravity of the search.
But then, I remember. Then, I recollect.
It’s not a competition. It’s not a race to defeat.
Tomorrow is a new day, and today is still here for the catch.
Make the best of this moment, and make a point to create the rest even better.
It’s not about perfection. It’s not about the ideal.
It’s about integrity, sincerity and virtue.
It’s about determination, perseverance and fortitude.
Let’s make the most of right now and work towards a great time to come.
To everything there is a season,
Ecclesiastes 3:1-2
A time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born,
And a time to die;
A time to plant,
And a time to pluck what is planted;
There are many plans in a man’s heart,
Proverbs 19:21
Nevertheless the Lord’s counsel—that will stand.
There is such a push in modern culture to do the same things, wear the same things.
There is such a demand to be the same as everyone else, compare and correlate.
If you are a follower of Christ, He never designed for this pattern.
Look at His disciples. Look at His creation.
Peter and John seemed to be polar opposites.
Snowflakes and raindrops are never identical.
He called you to be you, tempered by His Spirit, molded by His Son.
Find yourself in His design. Find yourself in His plan.
You’ll be amazed at what you discover.
You’ll be overwhelmed by what you reclaim.
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.
Romans 12:2
For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.
Galatians 1:10
Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.
1 Corinthians 11:1
You can choose to stay there in the muck and mire
You can choose to remain tied up in those wires
Full of disappointment, turmoil and pain
Or you can rise up and let that agony become your gain.
You can choose to settle for the heartache and tears
You can choose to agree with the brokenness for years
Full of misery, shackles and despair
Or you can choose to rise up and let that torment become your celebratory affair.
It is your choice. It is your decision.
You are never a victim. Your state is never of simple derision.
Choosing can be difficult. Choosing can be hard.
But choosing is freedom from a lifetime of bars.
Then they remembered that God wastheir rock, and the Most High God their Redeemer.
Psalm 78:35
You have caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; but You brought us out to rich fulfillment.
Psalm 66:12
No matter who you are, where you came from, where you’re going,
We all have a prison to live in.
It may be your career, your education, your ambition that demands your concentration, your dedication.
It may be your possessions, your economic status, your greed for more that commands your toil, your allegiance.
There is a prison, and it beckons your name.
It may be your pain, your heartache, your past that haunts your thoughts, your recollections.
It may be your anger, your temper, your impulse that forces your allegiance, your agreement.
There is a prison, and the door is open wide.
It may be your children, your spouse, your family that claims your devotion, your approval.
It may be your health, your well-being, your countenance that orders your commitment, your adherence.
It may even be a wall of bars you’ve allowed someone else to control the size, the depth, the yielding of your attendance that confines your submission and your surrender.
We all have a prison waiting, which one will you choose?
You can also decide love, joy, peace, and goodness will be your eternal home.
This prison will bring more freedom than you can ever imagine.
Then, you’ll want to lock the door and throw away the key.
Choose well. For once the latch is turned, you may never leave your abiding cage…
And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
Joshua 24:15
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.
Galatians 6:7
By the time you read this, the big day will be over, and will have moved on. We will be readying for the next as they new year is barreling toward us.
But I’m gonna post it just the same. I didn’t want to share during the festive season. I didn’t want to bring any gloom or despair. Yet, maybe some one needs to hear we all can have a bluesy Christmas sometimes…
Today was Christmas Eve Eve, meaning the day before Christmas Eve, and I’ve honestly struggled throughout the day to be cheerful. If I’m being honest, the struggle hasn’t been just today, but it seemed to be most prevalent through these past few hours.
We had our family gathering, and so many had returned. It was so great to see, and really fun to watch the littles jump and squeal with delights of grandeur and thrill.
Yet, I felt so out of sorts.
I didn’t mope. I didn’t whine, shed tears, or even frown. My sole remained solid. We chatted, laughed, and engaged.
No one knew. Not one even guessed. But the heaviness over my heart was so hard to turn around.
And I’m searching deep to find the reason why.
Nobody died. The bills aren’t overwhelming, and the kids aren’t sick. Our family is doing fine, and our marriage is at its all time best…even the in-laws are amazing and sublime.
Yeah. Don’t squint your eyes at me. It really is the truth!
So, why am I so down? What’s making my heart blue? I’m reaching down in the depths and crying out for the Father to reveal what’s true.
It’s like walking through a mountain park on a crisp, cool, fall afternoon. The sun is shining down beautifully. The leaves rustle in the wind, and the birds are chirping, getting ready to head to warmer lands.
And all of a sudden, your boot sloshes in the mud puddle that caught you unaware.
It’s not at all a tragedy. It’s not really even a shame. It’s simply a muddy bootleg, but it’s disappointing all the same.
And try as you may, it puts a little damper on the moment. Now, you can choose to let it ruin your day, or you can choose to shake it off and simply keep on skipping through that field. Yet, you do look back at that splash dirt and grime, wondering where it came from and what its purpose was lying so your fate was sealed.
That’s a pretty good picture of my heart today. I will choose joy, and I will choose peace, even if I have to fight to obtain it. But I’m still exploring the edges of my soul, hunting for that foul stain that is seeking to bring forth the rains.
And then all of a sudden, the name reappears, and the memories present themselves like a flood. That old wound which I thought I’d forgotten. That lost emotion which I try to keep hidden, even from myself, crashes in with a loud thud.
Some things are lost forever which can never be recovered. Some connections can not be reconciled. Some relationships are better left where they were placed and never riled.
But the pain in a little girl’s heart sometimes just creeps back and is secretly worn like an old cellar door left unlatched in the night to catch the wind in the middle of a storm.
Grief appears unannounced. Grief comes in all shapes and sizes. It might be a loved one lost; it might be a broken heart that can’t find amends. It may be a concord that has been shattered.
Grief has no time limit, and it has no bounds.
But I will choose joy. I will choose peace. And He will help to bring healing, as I bring it and lay it down again and again.
You will show me the path of life;
Psalm 16:11
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
No matter where you are or where you’ve come from,
No matter your lifestyle, your home life, or your family dynamics,
No matter your persuasion, your religion or your traditions,
We pray you have a very blessed and Merry Christmas!
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest,
Luke 2:13-14
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
Are you ready? Are you prepared?
Two days and a little more, it will be upon you.
Less than 72 hours, the event will appear.
Some declare they’re equipped and arranged…
Ever since Turkey Day!
Others say it’s too soon. It’s too fast…
It can’t be here right now!
For me, I’m ready; I suppose.
Yet, if I am truthful, this one has been a little strange.
Not because I don’t want it, and not because another gift has to be made.
My heart has just felt a pause.
I want to savor and cherish, yet I feel the moments slipping like sand.
I want to ponder and reflect, and I feel the hours melting like wax.
I sense the whirlwind of activities attempting to steal away the peace and joy as I cling.
So, I will sit and soak despite the noise.
I will breathe deep and exhale slow.
Grab a cup of coffee or mocha with me, and step back to enjoy.
But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.
Luke 2:19
Be still, and know that I am God…
Psalm 46:10
Ok, so this meme is posted to be funny, and I hope you’re laughing.
But honestly, there’s a little bit of truth here, and realistically, on both sides.
We can’t go around “locking people out” of our lives every time we dislike what they say or do.
Yet, for our own well being, there may be times that we need to lock that door.
If you’re feeling quick to agree or disagree with me, I’ll urge you to pause.
Your feelings of justification or accusation may not be accurate once you hear my thoughts…
In this culture we are living, it seems everyone can be offended, and everyone is demanding tolerance and acceptance.
In this modern society, everyone screams to “let me be me,” and if “you don’t, you hate me!”
Candidly speaking, this is a dumb statement on both ends of the spectrum.
If you are in the camp of those who are quick to gain offense and demand acceptance, in actuality, you are forcing that of me, but yet, I’m not allowed to do the same of you (because then, I’d be intolerant).
If you are in the camp who states emphatically that my disagreement proves my hatred, then in reality, you have just pointed the finger to the very thing you are doing to me (because now you are “hating on” me).
Both responses are unfair and unreasonable.
Both reactions are illogical and quite biased.
If you are truly desiring relationship, these expectations are one sided and selfish, and they only bring toxins and codependency.
If you are truly looking for companionship, these pressures are pompous and even narcissistic, and they only bring death and destruction.
If you are truly seeking connection, then you’ve got to have some give and take.
If you are truly pursuing friendship, then you’ve got to become less demanding and a little more understanding.
And this is when the decision to open the door or close it becomes essential.
Not because we need to go around locking out every controlling or domineering person we encounter,
And not because we need to become people of only rules and regulations; there must be second chances for mercy to flow.
But rather, we need to open the door wide to those who welcome, warm, refresh, strengthen and challenge the heart.
And we need to close it to those who demean, ridicule, imprison and manipulate the soul.
Learning when to lock the door and expand it takes a lifetime of wisdom, love and self-control.
Learning takes a lifetime of failing and succeeding.
It’s a hard lesson, but it is attainable.
It’s a arduous journey, but it is worth it.
Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?
Amos 3:3
Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”
1 Corinthians 15:33
Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Therefore, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
Romans 12:17-21
If he is thirsty, give him a drink;
For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Wholeness out of Brokenness
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There was a girl who got through the day with routines, laughter. and some memes...chores, laughs, smiles, and some cats...food, naps, plus coffee too...then yoga for the win... a warm bath, some books, and You Tube📺-hdtj💜
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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.
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