True Character

*no association or ownership of pic

Character isn’t revealed in the joyful moments.

Character isn’t unveiled in the easy, smooth, congenial patches of life.

Character gets put on display when the hard settles in like a cold, hard rain.

When the days are gray and the sunshine is hidden from view.

When the lights have been painted black and the doors have been slammed shut.

This is when character gets exposed with the spotlight of scrutiny.

These are the times when words are cheap and actions cut to the core.

So, take note what you do in the little things when the sun is bright and the crowd is loud.

Pay attention to the thoughts that harbor within the inner bays of idleness and the daydreams that yield in the hours of solitude.

For these are what will avalanche into the overflow of courage and virtue when crisis arises and all eyes are on you.

…each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.

1 Corinthians 3:13

A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, loving favor rather than silver and gold.

Proverbs 22:1

Pride or Purpose?

Having purpose is so important, and it is motivating. But when your purpose becomes an attitude of competition only to put down someone else, that pride will be your downfall. That downfall may not come to you immediately, but it will come. Eventually, it will come.

Purpose should be an inner competition of better self. Purpose should be an outward vigor of thriving through hardships. purpose should be an omnidirectional display of helping someone else to achieve their dream.

When purpose meets awareness of another, that purpose becomes a superpower that is not easily stopped. When purpose meets denial of self for the life of another, that purpose becomes almost invincible.

Choose purpose over pride. Self-denial over self-absorption. Compassion over competition.

And you’ll be amazed at the world you can create.

Pride goes before destruction,
And a haughty spirit before a fall.
Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud. He who heeds the word wisely will find good, whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he.

Proverbs 16:18-20

Friday Fun Day

It’s hard to believe that this time next week, I’ll be writing the first Friday Fun Day of 2020.

Time to assess, evaluate, process and plan.

What have you done in 2019 that has been fun?

What is one thing you wish you could go back and change?

What is one thing you are thankful for?

What is one improvement you’d like to make in 2020?

Your lists may be long, or they may be short, but it’s good to look at your year and take account of the good, the bad and the ugly. It doesn’t mean you can go back and change it.

However, if we keep doing the things we’ve always done, expecting a different results, we are not wise. I believe Albert Einstein actually said it amounts to INSANITY.

If we expect to see change, we must like a flower bush be pruned, watered and fertilized, and in the spring, growth will appear as a tiny bud. It may seem tiny, but over time, the beautiful fragrance will convince you of the change.

Happy Friday Fun Day! Go have some fun!

Let 2019 go out with a bang and welcome 2020 like a beautiful, sweet fragranced rain.

Love Me Challenge #27

Oops! So sorry, I thought I had posted this. 


What have I accepted about me through this LoveMe Challenge? I have definitely accepted that I’m unique. I’m quiet. I’m scarred. I’m doing some things right. I’m flawed. I have a past, and I have a future. I am loved, and I am an overcomer!

This has been fun! I hope you have enjoyed it, too. 😊

Love Me Challenge #25

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Our boys make me laugh all the time. They are so fun and funny. They really keep my on my toes! 😊

Comedians make me laugh sometimes, too, but it definitely depends on their humor and the condition of their words. Honestly, if they’re gonna cuss every other word or be crude and perverted, I just don’t see the humor in that. However, Tim Hawkins, Jeff Foxworthy or Jeff Allen can crack me up anytime! 😂 I even like some vintage humor like The Carol Burnett Show with Tim Conway and I Love Lucy!

Hope you get a good laugh from these! 
**Note: I do not own or possess any of these linked sites/videos. Simple google and link search to YouTube videos. If this has violated any copyrights or trademarks, please let me know, and I will gladly remove.**
 

Love Me Challenge #24

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This might seem like a little of a repeat from #19, but there’s really no way I can answer differently. My God, my husband and our boys make me happier than anything in this world! My God has become my Refuge, my Strength, my Peace, my Friend and so, so much more! My husband has become my best friend, my love, my confidante, and the list could go on and on. Our boys just bring so much joy, adventure and laughter in to our lives, I couldn’t imagine life without them!! …any of them!!

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I will have to say, another thing that makes me happy is great friends, especially lifelong or what I like to call “covenant” friends, because lifelong/covenant friends are hard to find. Covenant friendships don’t come into your life by chance nor are they birthed only from easy, fun-filled times together. Covenant friendships are birthed by choice and, often, through moments when you join arms and hearts and walk through the fires of life together. Life long friendships withstand the frivolous, the petty and even the physical miles that may grow over time. When you find one of these, hold onto them, cherish them and never let them go. Over the years, no matter the distance between you, you will be glad you did! 😉

Love Me Challenge #23

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Some might say my best feature is my smile. My friends might say it’s my eyes. I’ve heard others say it might be my hair or my tall physique. My husband would say…well, he just left the room when I asked him; so, I guess, I won’t be getting his answer for this post. If you ask me, my first response would be, “I don’t know.” This is really a difficult one for me, because I don’t like looking at myself and trying to figure out these kinds of answers. I’d rather talk about you and brag on your best feature(s). That is much more fun!

Yet, if I could say what I’d like my best feature to be is not something you will see at first glance, and it might not even be something you’ll notice at our first meeting of one another. However, once you get to know me, you’ll see I have a quiet, gentle way about me, and I have a knack for noticing small details. Sometimes, this trait will make me excruciatingly slow and meticulous, but when I’m “on it,” it allows me to see things others might miss. It causes me to see a pain in someone’s eyes when all the room sees their smile. It creates within me an ability to connect with the quiet, the lonely and the fearful. It allows me to see past the facade and smokescreen that someone may be giving in order to see the inner need to just belong and be loved.

I may not always see those little details, and I may very well “miss it” from time to time; however, when I’m listening closely to His voice and being in tune with His direction, this small ability becomes a great big asset in the Father’s hands, to be used for His glory, not because I’m ‘all that’ but because HE is.

Love Me Challenge #22

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The quality that makes me unique the most is probably my quirkiness. LOL. I wrote a little about it here, and I have often found myself feeling annoyed, frustrated or just plain embarrassed by this quirkiness; however, as I grow older, I have come to accept it as a part of me. Now, I work harder to allow Christ to reveal Himself through all of that, and I have realized when I rely more on Him than myself, His uniqueness is all I need! 😉

quirkiness

activerain.com

 

 

Tears Flow Like Rain

Sometimes, you just have to let the tears flow. Let them flow like rain. I’m not talking about manipulative water works here, those kind of tears found springing forth when a person is trying to work their own way in a situation they do not belong, or the kind of show that is selfish, ambitious, full of jealousy and greed.

No, I’m talking about drops of rain that rush forth from a broken and contrite soul. Tears which flow from a heart that is humbled before a righteous God.Tears can purify our thoughts as we allow His Spirit to wash over our soul. Tears can cleanse a wound and bring healing to the mind. Tears that are mingled with the conviction and power of the Holy Spirit can bring repentance, forgiveness, clarity and wholeness to the heart.

Personally,  I have always been the kind of person who can “cry at the drop of a hat,” not because I make myself, but rather because it seems I don’t know where the shut of valve is. 😂 Honestly,  there are times when that can get really annoying! Haha!😂 There was a time in my life when I hated crying, because I thought it made me appear weak, without strength or stamina; then, there were a few times I’d relish in those droplets that flowed, because I noticed the compassion that often followed. Over the years, I think I’ve just accepted them as my way of allowing God’s Spirit to cleanse mine.

I have concluded, it’s just a part of who I am. Tears are a part of my human make-up, and unless, I become hardened, bitter and mean, tears simply come with the territory of me. I suppose, I’d much rather be tender, sensitive and quick to shed a tear than rigid, barbed and hateful. At least this way, I can still fight the enemy with tears streaming down my face, and remain steadfast until the end, rather than becoming a robot, simply going through too much pain to even process and further damaging those within my sphere by my lack of empathy and love…

Love Me Challenge #20

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I wrote a post a long time ago about what I love to wear…

WARM CLOTHES  and   BOOTS!

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I am one of those “odd people” who would rather wear boots than anything else. I pull out my boots at the very first sign of cooler weather, and I am probably one of the very last who put them away for the season. So, here in Georgia, I wear them about 6-7 months out of the year, depending on how the weather works out that year. haha!

I love all kinds of boots, but this is one of my favorite pairs, because my love gave them to me as a birthday present. They were the first pair of real cowboy boots I’ve ever owned (or as an adult, at least)…

SWEET!