Spreading love, joy, peace, faith & unity

Archive for February, 2019

God’s 12 Step Program

God’s Twelve Step Program
Keeps me focused every day
As I walk downstairs

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My first hour each day
Spent in my sanctu-aerie
Starts my day off right

Then as I walk down
The twelve steps to the “real world,”
This is what I pray:

  1. Thank You, God, for the LOVE
  2. JOY, and
  3. PEACE that are mine.
  4. Help me with PATIENCE,
  5. KINDNESS,
  6. GOODNESS, and
  7. FAITHFULNESS (which brings blessings),
  8. GENTLENESS, and
  9. SELF-CONTROL.
  10. Help me live HUMBLY
  11. With an ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE, and
  12. A response of GENEROSITY, FORGIVENESS, OBEDIENCE and INTEGRITY.

In Jesus name, I pray. Amen!

When I get to the seventh step, this is what I see:
(the words above the front door spell “blessings”)

A metal sculpture gift from our friends, Terry & Jim

Blessings

And as I look down, I continue with steps 8 -12

stairs down

And at the “Amen” I come face to face with this:

Elke Angel

She’s one of three angels on the wall
at the bottom of the stairs
(a gift from Norbert and Elke of Germany).

Norbert was 6 years old in 1962 when Bob & I were married.
We lived in the downstairs of the Schallers’ chalet.
Bob was in the army; his base just over the hill.
We have stayed in touch with Norbert through the years.
Such a blessing!

I’ve named this precious angel “Elke,”
in honor of Elke Schaller.
She and Norbert created the three angels.
“Angel Elke” reminds me in my coming and going
to keep that 12 step program in my heart.

I walk to the kitchen and look out.
Here is a neighborhood treasure to greet me!

Deer at Raymond's

Have a blessed day, my deer!!

To God Be the Glory!

Have you read Rick Warren’s “Purpose Driven Life”?

I have read it several times – and completed the “Daily Inspirations for the Purpose Driven Life” that accompanies it. In it, Rick Warren highlights scripture to go with each chapter, and then has a page reserved for the readers’ Reflections.

In the chapter titled, “The Reason for Everything,” Romans 11:36 is one of the reflective quotes: “Everything comes from God alone. Everything lives by His power, and everything is for His glory.”

That quote prompted me to write the following acrostic.

Join me by reading it aloud  –  add plenty of enthusiasm!

Reading vertically, you can see that it says, “Glory to God – Praise Him!”

G ive all glory to the
L ord – to God Almighty! 
O n this day, praise Him!
R each out to others with
Y our whole heart, and love
T hy neighbor as thyself.
O n this day, Trust Him.
G ive what you have.
O ur gifts from God
D o not belong to us.
P ossessions are just things.
R esources are
A lways for sharing.
I nstead of hoarding and
S aving for yourself, know
E verything on earth is temporary.
H eaven is eternal.
I n His name, for His sake,
M agnify His name.

group of people raise their hands on stadium

Photo by Josh Sorenson on Pexels.com


To God Be the Glory!
Give generously!

Amen

 

More Snow Coming

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Another Wordless Wednesday

ram in snow.jpg

Bee a Joy-Bringer!

Bee a Joy-Bringer!
Why not spread lots of sweetness?
Plenty to be found!

animal bee bloom blooming

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

There are so many reasons
To be joyful every day.
Open my eyes, Lord,
To the smiles in my way.

Mountains to climb
I can carry all the troubles,
See the gloom and the doom,
Or I can listen to the birds
As their song fills this room.

animals avian birds branch

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

I can marvel at snow
Or complain of the drifts.

Open my heart, Lord,
To be ready for shifts.

Shift gears to the joy
Each fresh, new day brings.
Help me bee a joy-bringer;
Turn winter hearts into springs!

You Said to Do What??

You said for me to do what??
Love my enemies??

Are you crazy? How am I supposed to do that??

Yesterday’s sermon dealt with this scripture:
Luke 6:27-38 – – – telling us not to condemn or hate!

selective focus photography of cowboy holding revolver pistol statue

In the face of needless shootings and bombings,
In the midst of war and suppression,
You said for me to do what???
“Love Your Enemies!”

Oh sure!

Here are my notes from the sermon by Rev. Jean Johnson
at the Madison Valley Presbyterian Church in Ennis, MT
preached yesterday, February 24, 2019:

We excuse and justify our own faults
While magnifying those same faults in others.
By our own human nature,
We condemn our sisters and brothers.

.
Oh sure, there are some easier than others
To love and enjoy being around,
But Jesus asks us to actually love
Those who annoy us. Is that advice sound?

.
How can we eliminate grudges
And love those who hate us?
How can we look beyond wrongs
And ignore the way they bait us?

.
Jesus said we’re never justified
In hating – even those who mistreat us.
Do good to and pray for those who
Ignore us or laugh at those who greet us.

.
They not only show us disrespect,
But they insult us to our best friend.
How are we to turn the other cheek
To those who rob and curse us without end?

.
Jesus commands we give more than
Expected, and do it without expectation
Of anything in return. Follow the Golden Rule
And in heaven enjoy the celebration.

.
The bottom line is to live in love.
Love everyone – – – especially those who hate.
Everybody loves lovers, but we must do more.
Love the loveless… Now, before it’s too late!

.
Amen?

The question I asked was, “How?”
How do we love our enemies?
Certainly not on our own.

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It takes divine guidance
and help from above.
Pray, my friends.
Only through
Him who loved us first
Can we love others
Unconditionally.

pink love fabric decor with feathers

Photo by Amber Lamoreaux on Pexels.com

Quote

Which Way, Nigeria? — Shards of Bards

What happened yesterday was even worse than what I had imagined would happen. I’m still recovering from the shock. Here in Nigeria, the presidential elections were held yesterday, and like most people predicted, there was a serious display of terror and violence. I knew this would happen, though. Everyone here knew that that terrorist who’s […]

via Which Way, Nigeria? — Shards of Bards

Building a Legacy

Nigerian Voting.jpg
Our lives need to count
For something beyond our existence.
Keep loving; Keep following.
Keep writing; Keep growing.
Keep hoping; Keep learning.
Keep reporting; Keep knowing.
Keep praying; Keep yearning.
Keep teaching with persistence.

Tell it like it is.
We need you!

 

This post was inspired by
Obinna P. Anyaibe’s WordPress post,
Shards of Bards.

His subtitle is Grow. Glow. Inspire!
Today it is titled “Which Way, Nigeria?”
Read and BE INFORMED.
Keep praying for the people there…
Especially the Igbo tribe.
God bless you, Obinna!

T = Trust

Last Thanksgiving season, when I was writing my A-Z series on “What Makes Me Happy?” I wrote “Trust” for the T word. It seems appropriate for you, my newer followers, for me to repost this today as a follow-up to the blog I just posted on “Trust & Integrity.” I invite you to continue to explore those topics. They are so important – everyday – but especially in our world’s turmoil today!

Trust & Integrity

Trust is gained

Through integrity;

Integrity is given

As a Godly gift.

No one can take

Integrity from us.

We give it away;

We waste it;

We chip away at the

Fullness of our integrity

When we fail to:

  • Keep our word
  • Tell the truth
  • Follow through
  • Live honestly
  • Defend the weak

Trust begins internally;

We can’t trust others

Until we trust ourselves first.

We can’t trust ourselves

If we lack integrity.

The two are integrally related.

Ask God daily for help

With faith, honesty, and integrity.

Divine guidance increases

Our trust and integrity.

 

prayer time

God bless you!

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