Seasons of our Lives

I have been wondering just why I haven’t been blogging.  One reason is that I found facebook and reconnected with an high school friend.  The main reason is that we all go through Seasons of our Lives.  A time to heal, a time to dance, a time to be sad, a time to be happy etc. 

I read a little out of a friend’s book yesterday and one of the things I gleaned from it was how we deal with pain and guilt.  If you are anything like me, you can forgive others, you can accept forgiveness but it is difficult for you to forgive yourself.

I had a major breakthrough in that I was able to tell the person whom I had hurt that I was no longer going to live with guilt.  God had forgiven me, they said they forgave me and therefore I was going to dwell on the positive things we did together and the things I taught them and what they taught me.  I almost felt as though the person was sad.  In looking back on the situation, I think they had power over me by knowing how I felt.

Did I feel relieved?  Did I feel like a great weight was lifted off of my shoulder?  Do I feel better?  Yes, I do.  When God forgives us we need also to forgive ourselves and others.  When we do we enter another Season of our Lives – freedom.  When God tells us to cast our burdens on Him because He cares for us, he means just that.

I am a Princess, and today is my birthday.  The house is quiet, everyone is still asleep and today will be a good day.  I plan on having hubby buy me a Celtic CD for my birthday.  May you learn to lean on Jesus and rest in His care.  It will indeed make a difference in your life.  Don’t pick up that burden again, leave it on His shoulders and let Him carry your heavy load.

Have a wonderful day.

God Touched Me

I had the opportunity of going to a Ladies Retreat this past weekend.  While I was only able to attend the first session on Friday night, God spoke to me.  One of the things that I think we all could use during the economic crisis and spiritual crisis in America is to remember that God is in control.

I am reminded by the scripture we find in the book of Matthew, Chapter 14. 

“That evening the disciples came to Jesus and said, “This place is like a desert, and it is already late. Let the crowds leave, so they can go to the villages and buy some food.”  Jesus replied, “They don’t have to leave. Why don’t you give them something to eat?” But they said, “We have only five small loaves of bread and two fish.”  Jesus asked his disciples to bring the food to him, and he told the crowd to sit down on the grass. Jesus took the five loaves and the two fish. He looked up toward heaven and blessed the food. Then he broke the bread and handed it to his disciples, and they gave it to the people.  After everyone had eaten all they wanted, Jesus’ disciples picked up twelve large baskets of leftovers.  There were about five thousand men who ate, not counting the women and children.

Right away, Jesus made his disciples get into a boat and start back across the lake. But he stayed until he had sent the crowds away.  Then he went up on a mountain where he could be alone and pray. Later that evening, he was still there.  By this time the boat was a long way from the shore. It was going against the wind and was being tossed around by the waves.  A little while before morning, Jesus came walking on the water toward his disciples.  When they saw him, they thought he was a ghost. They were terrified and started screaming.  At once, Jesus said to them, “Don’t worry! I am Jesus. Don’t be afraid.”   Peter replied, “Lord, if it is really you, tell me to come to you on the water.”  “Come on!” Jesus said. Peter then got out of the boat and started walking on the water toward him.  But when Peter saw how strong the wind was, he was afraid and started sinking. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.  Right away, Jesus reached out his hand. He helped Peter up and said, “You surely don’t have much faith. Why do you doubt?”  When Jesus and Peter got into the boat, the wind died down.   The men in the boat worshiped Jesus and said, “You really are the Son of God!” 

The guest speaker, at the retreat, used this story to show how easy discouragement gets into our lives and wrecks havoc.  We, as Peter, have a choice to take our eyes off of the circumstances and put them on the Lord.  Faith is vital as well as trust.  We trust the Lord with all of our hearts knowing that in doing so, the Lord will direct us.  However, when trials and discouragement enter our lives, we can chose to move forward trusting Jesus, not taking our eyes off of Him and trust Him with our lives or we can wander in despair.

I am like the disciples.  I see something God has done in either my life or that of someone else and then I forget what God did.  Just as the disciples saw how Jesus provided the food for those who were hungry, they too took their eyes off of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Maybe we don’t trust too many individuals because of past circumstances.  However, God wants us to learn to walk with Him no matter what the circumstances may be trusting that He does know what He is doing in our lives.

May you find your eyes on the one who holds the truth in His hands and allow Him to guide you through your life.

Hobby Continued

A friend wanted to see some necklaces she liked lengthened – here are the pictures. 

Getting Dressed

Have you ever thought about when you get dressed in the morning for your day ahead. You always feel better when you’ve just washed and styled your hair, taken a shower/bath and put on your makeup, jewelry and your clothes.  I began wearing a casual necklace even when I am at home and style my hair as well.  One day last week I felt so bad I didn’t get out of my pj’s.  The next day I still felt bad, but I did something different.  I got dressed.  Even though I felt bad I, I knew at least I was up and dressed.  It does go along way in your self esteem.

Imagine doing that same thing spiritually and emotionally each day.  One of the scriptures I taught on many years was from the book of Galations and Colossians where we are told what to wear.  In Ephesians we put on the armour of God and in Colossians Paul encourages us to put on the greatest thing which is love.

Here are the scriptures for your consideration:  Try It, You’ll Like It!

Col 3:12  God loves you and has chosen you as his own special people. So be gentle, kind, humble, meek, and patient.  

Col 3:13  Put up with one another and forgive each other if anyone has a complaint against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, you also should forgive.

 Col 3:14  Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which ties everything together in unity.

Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. For those of you want a further study – you will find the commentary quoted below:  (Don’t let the length scare you.)  lol

Col 3:12-17 – The apostle proceeds to exhort to mutual love and compassion: Put on therefore bowels of mercy, Col_3:12. We must not only put off anger and wrath (as Col_3:8), but we must put on compassion and kindness; not only cease to do evil, but learn to do well; not only not do hurt to any, but do what good we can to all. I. The argument here used to enforce the exhortation is very affecting: Put on, as the elect of God, holy and beloved. Observe, 1. Those who are holy are the elect of God; and those who are the elect of God, and holy, are beloved – beloved of God, and ought to be so of all men. 2. Those who are the elect of God, holy and beloved, ought to conduct themselves in every thing as becomes them, and so as not to lose the credit of their holiness, nor the comfort of their being chosen and beloved. It becomes those who are holy towards God to be lowly and loving towards all men. Observe, What we must put on in particular. (1.) Compassion towards the miserable: Bowels of mercy, the tenderest mercies. Those who owe so much to mercy ought to be merciful to all who are proper objects of mercy. Be you merciful, as your Father is merciful, Luk_6:36. (2.) Kindness towards our friends, and those who love us. A courteous disposition becomes the elect of God; for the design of the gospel is not only to soften the minds of men, but to sweeten them, and to promote friendship among men as well as reconciliation with God. (3.) Humbleness of mind, in submission to those above us, and condescension to those below us. There must not only be a humble demeanour, but a humble mind. Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, Mat_11:29. (4.) Meekness towards those who have provoked us, or been any way injurious to us. We must not be transported into any indecency by our resentment of indignities and neglects: but must prudently bridle our own anger, and patiently bear the anger of others. (5.) Long-suffering towards those who continue to provoke us. Charity (love) sufferers long, as well as is kind, 1Co_13:4. Many can bear a short provocation who are weary of bearing when it grows long. But we must suffer long both the injuries of men and the rebukes of divine Providence. If God is long-suffering to us, under all our provocations of him, we should exercise long-suffering to others in like cases.

Thinking about “E”

I found this on Elaine’s blog and thought you might like to try it as well as myself.

Tina, of the Mummified Times Five, has this posted at her blog and left it open for others to do. Rules: It’s harder than it looks! Copy to your own note, erase my answers, enter yours and tag your friends. Use the first letter of your name to answer each of the following questions. They have to be real. Nothing made up! If the person before you had the same first initial, you must use different answers. You cannot use any word twice and you can’t use your name for the boy or girl name question. Have fun!

1. What is your name: Ellen

2. A four letter word: earn

3. A boy’s name: Edward

4. A girl’s name: Evelyn

5. An occupation: engineer

6. A color: emerald

7. Something you wear: ear muffs

8. A food: egg plant

9. Something found in the bathroom: eye drops
10. A place: Edenton, NC
11. A reason for being late: engine trouble
12. Something you shout: Enjoy!
13. A movie title: Ever After
14. Something you drink:  egg nog 
15. A musical group: Eagles
16. A street name: Eisenhower
17. A type of car: Escort

18. A song title:  Everlasting Love

19. A verb: eatting

Hobby continued

I hope you like this Anna.

This is a better angle-hope you like it friend.

Spring into style

Update on Hobby

I want a friend to see some pictures of my jewlry I am making as a hobby.  Here they are:

Facebook – Learning

I’ve been invited by numerous friends to join them on facebook.  I decided I’ld try it.  I’m not so sure I’ve got the hang of it just yet – but it is interesting to try some new things.  No matter what, I have figured out that I miss blogging.  Although I do have more responses to Facebook.  I would love to find some friends I went to high school with.  I will have to dig out my year books and make sure I have the correct spelling of their names.

Maybe you blog and do Facebook.  What do you like best, and why?  I would love to hear more about what you can do on Facebook, but it looks like me it is just a few sentences here and there.  I did locate my niece that I had lost touch with.  Feel free to share your experiences here.

The World Around Us

One of the things my husband taught me was to spot wild life while driving through the country.  Recently, I saw 7 deer in a field.  I almost missed them because they were on a field (advancing towards the woods) in a recently plowed area.  They blended so well that you would not see them unless one of them moved. 

It is not just in nature that we look at the world around us, but I have taught him to appreciate the old buildings and architecture designs.  If you ever get a chance you need to see the Washington Cathedral in Washington, DC.  Wow!  It is fabulous.  The outside takes away my breath.  I also like to look at the individual homes and how the owners add their personal touch in their yards etc.

Spring is around the corner and already the dafoldils are budding from the earth.  It is February and we have had some warm weather.  If we have a big freeze or fridgid temperatures we might loose them. 

While it is good to pause and look at what God has created, I think of those who are homeless, loosing their homes and jobs.  My mind cannot grasp the action taken by the Father, who after he and wife lost their jobs, killed his wife and children and then himself. 

The Bible teaches us to help others and we need to ask God in what capacity that should be.  Faith is believing that God will take care of us – so don’t hold on to that last penny, use it to bring glory to your heavenly Father.

Galations 6:9 and 10  We should help people whenever we can, especially if they are followers of the Lord.   Don’t get tired of helping others. You will be rewarded when the time is right, if you don’t give up.

New Hobby

Here are some samples of jewelry I have recently made, as a hobby.  I hope you enjoy seeing them as much as I had making them.    One of my friends have been wearing jewelry since I started making them and it is helping her self esteem.   I have to admit that even while at home – it does make a difference when you do wear jewelry (I’ve tried it and I like it and so does my husband).  While we adorn ourselves with jewelry it is more important that we as Believers adorn ourselves with Christ’s teachings.

1Peter 3:3

 

Don’t depend on things like fancy hairdos or gold jewelry or expensive clothes to make you look beautiful.

1Peter 3:4

 

Be beautiful in your heart by being gentle and quiet. This kind of beauty will last, and God considers it very special.