Love Me Challenge #12

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To share a flaw, my mind is immediately drawn to how jacked up my heart can be. My flesh is ugly. It is unruly, untempered and unkind. It takes a daily crucifixion for it to be maintained within my being. It takes a conscientious rebuking every single time this old flesh wants to rebel to keep it in check. If I allow it any leeway, it will overrule whatever and whenever it can…

So God, always guide and direct my deceptive heart. Never let me convince myself that my motives can somehow be pure and innocent. You judge my heart. You refine it. You transform it to be more like Your precious Son. ❤

 

 

Love Me Challenge #11

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To share a smile, my mind immediately thinks of my loves… ❤

I love this one of yesteryears… ❤

 

Love Me Challenge #10

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Today, it is suggested that I share a secret…

WHAT

KIND

OF

SECRET

CAN

BE

SHARED

THAT

ONCE

SPOKEN

TO

MANY

IS

A

                                                                                                  SECRET??

                                                                                                                                            Shhhhhh……….

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themidult.com

 

 

Love Me Challenge #9

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To share something beautiful, I hesitate to pick just one. There are so many from which to choose…people, places, things, animals, sceneries, and so much more. Yet, as the days grow older within my own heart and mind, I find the most beautiful things in this life are, often, hard to capture in a photograph or write down in letters and words. The most beautiful things I have found to be true are

FAITH      HOPE      LOVE      FRIENDSHIP      GRATITUDE      HUMILITY       ENCOURAGEMENT

Words and actions that can’t quite be grasped in a frame or held in a hand but can always be seen by the heart and heard by the soul…

 

 

The Mailbox Is Full

Are you one of those whose voice mailbox is always full? People call your number only to receive the automated voice which says, “I’m sorry the voice mailbox is full and cannot receive any more messages.” I know, those of you who know me personally are chuckling right about now. Sometimes I am the world’s worst about cleaning out my mailbox. (#sorrynotsorry). My problem is being a keeper of too many memories, but that’s another story for another day…

Regardless of the reasons for a full voicemail, having one full inhibits a new message from getting through. Having a full mailbox causes a backup, a blockage, a hindrance of something new or something important being delivered to you. People have to recall, send a text or try to remember to give you the message upon the next time seeing you. This method isn’t very helpful, and it can definitely pose a problem in the case of an emergency or an important moment of contact when missed.

This made me start thinking of when God is trying to get “a message” to us. Sometimes, our minds are full of so much clutter that we can’t hear truth. The volume in our head is too loud. Our thoughts overrun whatever message He is trying to send, because we never shut them off. We never make time to just be still and listen.

Sometimes, our imagination is at such a high that it causes the volume in our head to be too low. Our daydreaming has become so unruly that we constantly live in a “happy place of nothingness,” and we miss His message, because we’re not connected to the moment when He speaks. We miss an opportunity, a person of influence or a moment of impact, because we are never present where we are.

I don’t know about you, but I want God to be able to get through to me at anytime, night or day. I want to be so in tune to His voice that no matter what is going on, where I am, or who I am with, He is able to speak, and I immediately hear. I want to be free from clutter, and I want to be living in each moment of every day, never leaving anything to chance.

Lord, help me to clean up my “mailbox”; so, I can clearly hear Your voice. Help me to turn the volume down in my head when it gets too loud by walking out into the woods or standing beside a waterfall to remind me of who You are and who I am not. Help me to turn up the volume in my head when I am distracted by the void of nothingness. Always remind me to live fully in every moment You give me, for I never know when it might be the last for me or someone I love. Let my life be of impact to those around me, because I am in tune with You, and I know when You speak.

 

Love Me Challenge #8

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To share a scar today, I am going to share a bit of poetry

This scar will be with me for life. As a child, I hated this mark upon my skin. I thought of it  as a deformity, a nuisance and an intrusion to what and whom I believed I could have been without it. Now that I am older, even as the skin tucks and pulls at the place of injury, I find myself thanking my God for saving my life on that dreadful night.

I should not have survived…but God. ❤

 

 

Choosing to Drive

 

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autoblog.com

In driving school, you must choose to hit the brake or accelerator depending on where you need to go and how fast you need to get there. You hit the brake to avoid mishaps, accidents, or when you are feeling unsure, and you need to create a little space and time to think and consider your next move. You hit the accelerator when you want to get somewhere a little faster or when you are feeling more confident in your position and the vehicle which you are driving.

 

In our relationship with God, we have these same choices. When He gives direction, we can push the accelerator and “ride like the wind,” totally depending on His leading. We can hit the brakes, believing we know better or just allowing our fears and doubts to override. When God says, “It’s not time,” we have the choice to hit the gas or slam the brakes, choosing to allow Him to guide or our own wisdom to rule the day.

In every moment and at every command, we have a choice to remain in the car behind the wheel, with God as our guide, or to get out of the car and leave the path when times get too tough. It is all in our choosing, but if we will stay closer to His hand and listen more closely to His voice our choices can render better results. If we will seek His understanding rather than our own, our end destination will be less hazardous and more beneficial.

So, ask yourself today, “Who will be my guide? … To whom will I listen and obey? … To whom will I surrender my will and my way?”

The choice is yours…

 

 

Love Me Challenge #7

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One thing that’s just for me…

This “challenge” has me a little baffled as to the meaning, but I guess, I will share the one picture I have in my photo library that I bring to the surface when I need a little comfort, a little strength or just to be reminded of a little love along the way… it is just for me…

This is my precious grandfather who has gone on to glory many years past. I miss him so, but I am so thankful I will see him again on the other side in glory. I remember this day like it was yesterday. He loved me so, and I loved him. His big arms around me always made me feel protected and so secure. His gentle words of cheer always made me smile. Each time I see this picture, I am reminded of this Scripture in Matthew 7:11, “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”

 

 

Love Me Challenge #6

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Hello Future Self,

I pray this letter finds you well and full of life. I hope you have kept the faith and fought hard to keep it. I pray you have shared it with all those around you, leaving stepping stones of legacy all in your wake.

I do hope you have taken good care of your body, physically, mentally and emotionally. If you haven’t, there’s not better time than the present! Get busy living, or get busy dying! The moment you refuse to grow and change, you begin the slow decline of holding on and awaiting death. Don’t do that! LIVE and live life to the fullest!!

Always cherish those God places in your life, for you never know the moments which could be their last. Don’t live in the regrets of the past, just recognize what could’ve have been done differently, accept the mistakes for what they were and simply push forward to the promises of tomorrow. His Word is true, and it will never return void; so, hold onto it as a lifeline.

I know you will be a feisty older woman, full of beauty and grace, not because of some wealth you have obtained, nor because of some miracle of less wrinkles or aging than the next person. You will be a woman full of beauty and grace, because you will remember the Proverbs 31 woman and always seek to be more like her. Her beauty came from within and so does yours. Her grace came from above and so does yours.

For yesterday, today and tomorrow, “…seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Matt. 6:33 Keep this as your life’s motto and all will be well. Added to this, “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them…” These two Scriptures will take you on into eternity with so much grace and will leave behind a beautiful legacy for generations to come.

My prayer is for you and your man to still be madly in love and be living a joyful life here on this earth, but if those circumstances are different, I know you will be clinging to Jesus’ hand and trusting Him to take you onto glory when you will see him again.

“May The Lord bless you and keep you…May The Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; May The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26

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My rendition still stands:

Love fully      Laugh deeply     Love freely

 

 

Above All, Trust Him

 

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TRUST

For so many, this can be a scary word. This simple word can be bring up memories filled with disappointment, heartache and even anger and despair. This word can cause a person to scowl, cry and even turn away. Why does this word cause such trepidation?

I’m not sure I can speak for every soul that might read this, but I can definitely answer for myself… Trust can be the one thing that, when placed in a human being, can be built up like a mighty tower, only to be torn down in the blink of an eye. It is the one word that,  when placed in the hands of another, can be cradled and cared for like a child or can be dashed against the rocks of life without a second thought or concern.

Trust can be placed by a loving child into the neglectful grasp of an adult, and that adult can be reckless, rebellious. Thinking only of themselves, they carry on, never considering the heart of that child , they never realize their waywardness has left irreparable damage behind. That child can be scarred for life, being conditioned by broken promises and ill spoken words, never recognizing there is a better way.

Trust can be planted in the fist of a broken love, destined for failure, yet having faith that this time might be different. Being fleshly and human, they carry on, never acknowledging the wounds, the actions and glances that bring more pain. That love can be scarred for life, being conditioned by broken promises and over zealous musings of commitment, never recognizing there is a better way.

Complete TRUST should always be placed in the hands of the One who is forever faithful and true. When our trust is in Him, it does not mean people will never let us down. It doesn’t mean all things are made new, and all of a sudden, we live in a perfect world full of trustworthy friends and foes. However, when our trust is in Him alone, His love and faithfulness shields our soul from the death of disappointment and pain. For His grace and mercy brings life, love and hope to TRUST once again.

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