Inside Every Woman Is a Little Girl....

Inside every woman is an adult and a child.

They need to get to know each other.

 

Can you even remember being a little girl and what it is was like?

 

 

We often get so busy with our own family, working, and trying to survive, that we lose ourselves. We become an extension of others and their needs and forget who we really are, our potential, and as we grow older--who we really were.

 

Does it matter?

Something to think about:

We viewed responsibility with enthusiasm....


We often thought work was fun?


 

 

We acted spontaneously...

We found JOY in every day things...

We worried less...

We felt connected to nature and animals...

We let things happen--rather than tried to make things happen...

 

 

As a retired woman, now a grandmother, I aim to try to take time to breathe, take time to play, take time to be the unique person God created me to be without fear of what others may think or want me to do. And, I want to remember what it was like to be a little girl. Because, she is still a part of me.

 

Know that the Lord is God!

It is He who made us

and we are His;

we are His people and the sheep

of His pasture.

Psalms 100:3

 Think about the "little girl" you were...the little girl who is still inside you, and what it means for you today. And, then, give praise to the God of the universe who loves you with incredible love.

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

Use Only When Needed?

Use only when needed

If I were to go my medicine cabinet, I might find a number of medications or salves that would say "use only when needed." In a way we could apply this phrase to many things in life, like, eat only when needed (in other words, don't over eat). Exercise only when needed--like, 2-3 times a week is sufficient.

In other words, moderation in many things works very well.
However, there are some things that we can do all the time and actually be better off. No moderation needed for love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, and faithfulness, which are the Fruits of the Spirit mentioned in Galatians 5:10

Think of what a better place the world would be if we were excessive in all of the above.

Another area where "use only when needed" does not apply is prayer.
Pray without ceasing is written in 1Thessalonians 5:17.
Impossible?
I think not, any time you look at the clouds floating or a jet plane coloring the sky; every time you watch the sea rush to shore, every time you watch a child at play.... you can praise.
You don't need to wait until it gets bad enough, as in "I can deal with this, I'll wait until it gets really bad and then call God in to see what He can do."
Every time you have a decision to make, a choice, include your maker.
After all, He created you, so obviously, He knows you better than anyone.

I've given you the when and why--
Where? Wherever you are ... you don't need to be in church. You don't need to be alone with a Bible in front of you. Where-ever you are, you can pray. It's simply conversation with your Maker, your Creator, the Almighty God of the Universe. Walking down the street? He's listening. At a board meeting? He's listening. At a hilarious, somewhat tumultuous family gathering? He still hears you.
Speak from your heart. He's been waiting .....

The ___ Word

Carved in a telephone pole in a corner of the school play yard, there it was--a four lettered word beginning with the letter "f". A classmate, who had pulled me to this spot, told me it was the worst word ever and never to say it. I thought about it on the way home from school on the bus; I thought about it at supper time, and, then, at bedtime while Dad read, "The Bobsie Twins."  I didn't dare bring it up to my parents. The word "darn" was not allowed at our house. They had probably never even heard of the ___ -word.

I stayed away from that corner of the playground. I didn't want to have others think I was an indecent girl because I was out there staring at the engraved ___ - word. I do remember other things, like the day a thread of my new can-can caught at the top of the metal slide, and my can-can unwound itself all the way down. I kind of walked away, head down, and pretended it wasn't mine as it flapped about in the wind--but everyone knew--my skirt had lost its bounce.... And, then, there was the time I fainted right in front of the whole class when Mrs. Hovik spoke of bloody noses. I'm not sure why she went there...

In spite of 46 years of marriage and four pretty-well-behaved children who nevertheless had their moments, I have never felt inclined to use the __ -word. Until the other day.

I blame it on Dave Barry (comedian, writer). I had checked out one of his books from the library. It was presumably funny, suspenseful--to the point of hilarity. But, after a couple of chapters I took it back as the ___-word was used generously on each page.

So, when in a stressed-out situation recently, it slipped out. I was so surprised, I wanted to go look in the mirror and ask, "Who are you?"

If you're wondering where I'm going with this, I'm not sure. I've tried to be honest, real, and open with my blogsite. And I hope you see the humor in this. Some situations are more laughable than they are dire. Thank goodness, this happened in the privacy of my home and not out in public. I read from James this morning, Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.

Other "f" words, besides Papa Murphy's use of "fresh" describing their pizza, include favored, fascinating, fantastic, fabulous, and faithful. Let's think on these things.

Gilead, Balm, Healing, and Hope

Gilead is a region of Palestine known for its balm.

Is there no balm in Gilead?
Is there no physician there?
Why then is there no healing
for the wound of my people? Jeremiah 8:22


A balm is a healing, restorative ointment.
There is actually a plant named Balm of Gilead.
It has aromatic leaves; it soothes, relieves and heals.

*****

"Balm of Gilead" is a well-known Black-American spiritual. A version of this song has been found in an 1854 hymnal... The words tell of hope mingled with despair....

There is a Balm in Gilead

Refrain:

There is a balm in Gilead

To make the wounded whole;

There is a balm in Gilead

To heal the sin sick soul.

Sometimes I feel discouraged,

And think my work's in vain,

But then the Holy Spirit

Revives my soul again.

Refrain

...... 

The spiritual is a reminder of a God who is bigger than any of our problems; it is a reminder of a love so great that Someone died for each of us that we might live eternally.


Although Balm of Gilead is a reference from the Old Testament, the lyrics refer to the New Testament and salvation through Jesus Christ. It is interpreted as a spiritual medicine that is able to heal Israel--and sinners like you and me today.



He died for all.

*******

Holy Week and Easter are on the horizon.

Think about what Jesus, God's son, did for you and me.
Talk about sacrificial love.... Talk about a reason to be...
... no matter your circumstances.
There is ALWAYS hope because of THIS.

Which Face Are You Wearing?

Dr. Henrietta Mears wrote that everyone has four faces--

1) The one the world knows

2) The one our friends know

3) The one we know ourselves

4) The one God knows

 

Lent is a period of penitence and fasting observed on the forty weekdays from Ash Wednesday to Easter in Christian churches. For some, it offers time for additional reflection into our personal and spiritual selves....as we consider who we really are.

We each have times when we are over-whelmed, exhausted, mistreated or feel we are living without purpose--nothing is happening or too much is happening.  What difference does it make?  Sometimes, we adorn masks, a facade, so nobody knows who we really are or how we are really feeling. We can kid others; we can even fool ourselves.

But God always knows.

We are often troubled, but not crushed;

sometimes in doubt, but never in despair;

there are many enemies, but we are never without a friend;

and though badly hurt at times,

we are not destroyed.

At all times we carry in our mortal bodies

the death of Jesus,

so that his life may also be seen in our bodies.

2 Corinthians 4: 8-10

With God, there is always hope.

We are always being made new because of Jesus, the Christ.

***

Leo Buscaglia wrote. . .

     Starting each day I promise myself not to try to solve all my life's problems all at once . . .

     Starting each day I will try to learn something new about me and about you so that I may continue to experience all things as if they had just been newly born.

     Starting each day I shall listen to you and try to see your point of view and to discover the least threatening way to offer you mine, remembering that wherever we are now we need not be there tomorrow.

     Starting each day I shall seek out the beautiful things that fill our world like flowers and blades of grass and dew drops on leaves, and people, and faces, and share my new-found beauty with you.

     Starting each day I shall reach out and touch you gently with my mind, my eyes, and with my hands, for I don't want to miss you.

***

 

 

Everyone has four faces--

1) The one the world knows

2) The one our friends know

3) The one we know ourselves

4) The one God knows...

... and isn't it wonderful that..

 

...And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3:18

 

 

What I Learned in Hawaii...

We recently visited Hawaii, and it was more beautiful than I had imagined. The canyons, active volcano, lava beds, and Hawaiian people were each a learning experience. Did you know they are among the most remote islands in the world? ... and everywhere, we were reminded of the sea.

Prevalent animals included wild and multi colored chickens, boar, mongoose, brown goats, deer, and sea turtles.

The beaches were covered with brown, red, white, or black sand--depending on the location. On many beaches, it was not safe to swim because of the rocks, humongous waves, or current. But where it was safe, what glory I felt to be in an aquamarine sea--a part of the waves and sky above.

I had heard that prices in Hawaii were outrageous. We did not find this to be true. I could get a yogurt at the hotel breakfast bar for $5 or I could go across the street to the ABC store and buy the same brand/size yogurt for a little over $1. I had "catch of the day spearfish" with mashed potatoes and a garden salad in a seaside restaurant for $22.

There were homeless people. Some had little nests established near the ocean surrounded by lava rocks. Sleeping bags covered the ground; piles of decorated rocks created their walls.

The native Hawaiian families came from various Polynesian islands many, many years ago. They seem to be hard-working, friendly, family oriented, and wanting to keep their history intact. We attended several Luas, enjoyed their native food, and were entertained by dancers and stories of days past.

Almost everything in Hawaii is brought to Hawaii from other countries or the United States. Pineapple and sugarcane are no longer grown there. Tourism is their primary industry, followed by the military on most islands.

SPAM is big in Hawaii. We found it in abundance in a variety of flavors in supermarket stores. A family can feed themselves a meat dish with a can of Spam for $1.99.

No shirt, no food, no service doesn't apply in Hawaii... We attended a Congregational church on Sunday morning, just a block from seaside.... some didn't wear shoes although dressed in skirts, blouses, or nice shirts and long pants. We worshiped with Christians from Hawaii and from other places in the world to praise our Almighty God, the Creator of all Creation.

For the LORD is the great God,

the great King above all gods.

In his hand are the depths of the earth,

and the mountain peaks belong to him.

The sea is his, for he made it,

and his hands formed the dry land.

Psalm 95

Different? How so.....

  

What do a homeless person from the streets of Fort Worth and an upscale art dealer have in common? Like non-fiction? I recommend the book, Same Kind of Different as Me.
If you want to change your life, go out and meet someone new. Get outside that tiny box, called self, you've been hibernating in and move. Move towards the one who needs someone like you to be a part of his or her life.

Scary? Perhaps.

Easy? Probably not.

Why? Why not?

Through the encouragement of his wife, Ron Hall, steps outside his comfort zone in the world of art, and starts feeding the homeless in inner city Fort Worth. He meets a homeless man, Denver, and his world evolves in ways he could never have imagined.

A book editor once told me that I seem to want to write about the "messiness" of life. Well, think about it. It's out there. All over, wherever we go. We See In a Mirror Dimly is about mental illness. The Secret Is is about poverty and learning disabilities. All the Rivers Run Into the Sea is about dysfunctional relationships,Thou Shalt Not is about murder and more. Do Not Be Deceived is about family abuse and poverty.

The Same Kind of Different as Me, caused me to think about those who are often neglected and even scorned because of poverty and the unknown reasons they arrived at this state in their lives. It caused me to think about death, why we are here, and how I may go forward in my own life in a more purposeful way.

Different? We each are capable of hate, fear, frustration, disappointment, and, yes, even, love. We all yearn for something greater than ourselves, a place where there is no hate, fear, frustration, disappointment. A place where there is only love. Are we really so different from each other?

In spite of the trials in your own live, choose to love God.
Choose to love your fellow man.

 

He is the God of mighty angels.

He is a friend of mine.