each day is new

Recently I read a devotion that prompted me to think on the very fact that people in general do not like to be wrong. It isn't always because they come from a place of malicious pride or evil, but because they never want their character flawed, or their honor skewed etc... People by nature want to be good. They want others to see them in a good light and in a positive way, so sometimes we hide, sometimes we omit, sometimes we lie, sometimes we forget to be sorry, we forget to say we are sorry and if conflict is involved,  we hope it will just all blow over and be gone. The true measure of character though is being able to admit when wrong, being able to confront the conflict and find resolution. ...But have you forgotten how to be sorry? I mean true repentance with God. Do you think, "ok Jesus died for my sins and I can live however"... well he did die for you, but you cannot and should not want to live"However". There should be a spirit of repentance

It feels horrible to be lied to.  Even if it was later declared as a mis understanding or lack of communication. That moment when it feels like you have been lied to is a very sad time for me anyway…     Maybe it’s because I am so honest or such a realist, I am not sure, but I do not like to be lied to. I do not like for it to be declared a lack of communication either because then I am made to feel crazy like I did not hear what I thought I heard. Oh the webs we weave.  Sometimes love hurts but the dance is part of life that you might not get otherwise. Those sweet babies that walk on your feet when they are little and your heart when they are big… That human connection, emotional investment, sharing, etc…. It’s all part of God’s plan. Oh but the spider webs can get dense. I think I know what Gwen Stefani was singing about when she penned the words about the spider webs in her way. God created us to want the human connection. Sin and a fallen world is what makes it so tangled. 

I used to really hate my dad as a teen.... Don't all teens? Well I could list reasons why I hated my dad...  but now that he is gone, all I can do it grieve the man that was. Now that almost 20 years has passed,  I don't remember the bad times, I remember the good. I remember the man he was and the man he wanted to be. The one he strived to be, but couldn't get a break. The man he aspired to be but he dealt hard with addictions. I saw his heart... and I cling to THAT memory more than any other. I want to ask you today.... do you have a dad living? If so, look at his heart... that controlling man just wants to protect you. That alcoholic man is just sick and hurting... (sometimes you might have to love from a distance) That work aholic just wants to make like better for you and your children, though he might have gotten a little deep into work... he still loves you. That man that you might barely know- he has a heart, he has a soul and he loves you.... though

So you may remember when Iggy came out with her first song "Fancy" that she says, "First things first, I am a Realist" yeah, that is a catchy toon right ?  But there are a few things I would like to share with you about a Realist. I also want to post a disclaimer.... or Side note here that this is not directed towards any one person, these are just some thoughts that I have thought about over time and since this is my blog.... I wanted to blog on it.... First , If you are going to be my friend, then when you offer to do something for me, or say you are going to do something, then please do it. I expect for you to do what you say you are going to do and mean what you say you are going to do. (If you offer something I expect for it to be real). Second, Realists have a hard time with fake people, so maybe there is some idealism mixed in with realism, but please respect my feelings and accept that I need you to be real with me. We have our own views on politi

Today, as you walk into the sunlight I pray that God infuses his love into your soul, into your being and into your heart and you know without a doubt he is a living God.  I pray if it rains, each rain drop that falls,  you see God in the intricate detail of a thunderstorm, of lightening and his majesty, his sovereignty becomes real. When you see the sunrise, I pray it is Like a light bulb coming on in your brain as you watch it come up on the horizon, and the peace that comes with that sunrise, the stillness of the morning brings awe into your heart and you realize God is there with you and he is a living God a real entity, and hope infuses into your soul.  As you watch a sunset, I pray God speaks softly into your ear at the end of that day and tells you to relax, take a deep breath and as dusk replaces light,  your heart is filled with his wonder, his love and his peace.  God is real, he loves you, he wants you to choose to follow him.

I recently was asked to give my testimony. I really do not like doing it because it makes me feel like I am giving a history of my life basically. With all the dysfunction and problems exposed and out in the open. But more importantly than the vulnerability is the fact that I really do not want people to feel sorry for me. The look in their eyes when I give my testimony is something I would really rather not see. I tell myself though by giving my testimony I might help someone else along the way who might be dealing with or have dealt with some of the same things I am. This time though, I did it a little different. I gave God the glory and reminded everyone that my story is really His Story in that he did an amazing work in me. I say that because I remember where he brought me from. Do you remember where he brought you from? I like the scripture "he brought me out of the miry pit" Psalm 40:2. That would have to be my life verse. As I am reminded my life could have went eit

So I am in deep thought about my Bible study of Hosea.  The question in the text is what is your bread and water?  Funny question right.  Well,  as I pondered that thought, I thought of Maslow and his hierarchy of needs. Here is a quick rundown of Maslow's theory. If all the needs from the bottom up are met, then we can make it to the top of self actualization ( chart at the bottom of the page) 1. Biological and Physiological needs - air, food, drink, shelter, warmth, sex, sleep. 2. Safety needs - protection from elements, security, order, law, stability, freedom from fear. 3. Love and belongingness needs - friendship, intimacy, affection and love, - from work group, family, friends, romantic relationships. 4. Esteem needs - achievement, mastery, independence, status, dominance, prestige, self-respect, respect from others. 5. Self-Actualization needs - realizing personal potential, self-fulfillment, seeking personal growth and peak experiences "Yes, thei

The other day, I was coming out of a store when I noticed a fire and rescue truck parked near my car. I noticed the fireman walking around the parking lot and looking in cars. Apparently someone had called them to help someone in the parking lot. They found the car and began their questions and appeared to have found the right car.  As I was leaving I looked around at the on-lookers and crowd that had gathered and noticed a look in their eyes, a look of compassion all around. It was touching.. The look of compassion, when someone feels for another, it is a natural emotion that should be felt, but in today's world I feel that it goes lacking often. Yes, people can gather round in an emergent situation and care, but do we care enough to care. As I began to think about this look I wondered if only people had a little more compassion for each other on a daily basis how much better off we would be. Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell amon

So I must share with you all that I got sad when I found out Merle Haggard had passed away. He was one of my dad's favorites and  an icon in my home growing up,  and an Icon in Country Music. Merle, Hank Jr, Waylon and Willie, was the music of choice for my dad to listen to while he drank. My dad has been gone almost 20 years now, I often find myself following these guys on social media to just keep that connection with my father. While my dad died at an early age of 50, the day after his birthday,  he would listen to these guys often. Isn't it funny what we hang on to and what we connect with and how we connect. Seriously, The once hard time of a father that drank a lot of alcohol and did other things, I now find solace in that same music that made my life "hard" during that time.  I actually have a playlist titled country memories with all the old music on there,  Waylon,Willie, Hank Jr, Merle, Bobby Bare, and I am forgetting some for sure. Life is a fun

Today, I began a run alone, and while I knew it wasn't too far, I think this was the first time I ran alone, more than 2 miles anyway.  I really do not like to run. Well,  short runs like 1-2 miles are fine as I do not hurt so much after but a 4+ mile run has me sore for days, and sleeping on a heating pad because of my arthritis. So my bones do not like runs. ( I used to think arthritis was for old people and though I am getting older, I was diagnosed in my early 30's with it and it is not fun). I like running with Danny or others as it keeps me accountable and it's even kinda social in a sense. As I was running alone, I realized it's just me and the voice inside my head to encourage me, and to  coach me to go on, just me and my thoughts and the music to listen to.  I would find myself going back to those coaching words, head up, shoulders back, light feet....Then there were times,  I thought since I am alone,  I can even walk if I want and when I want... haha. So

Today, as you walk into the sunlight I pray that God infuses his love into your soul, into your being and into your heart and you know without a doubt he is a living God I pray if it rains, with each rain drop that falls,  you see God in the intricate detail of a thunderstorm,  watch the lightening while his majesty,  and his sovereignty become real When you see the sunrise, I pray it is Like a light bulb coming on in your brain as you watch it come up on the horizon, and the peace that comes with that sunrise, the stillness of the morning brings awe into your heart and you realize God is there with you and he is a living God,  a real entity, and hope infuses into your soul. As you watch a sunset, I pray God speaks softly into your ear at the end of that day and tells you to relax, take a deep breath and as dusk replaces light your heart is filled with his wonder, his love and his peace. God is real, he loves you, he wants you to choose to follow him.