GalleryL O V E
Love springs!
Spring has sprung in my hometown….
Although it’s still only February in Oregon, this is what you will see in my little corner of the state.
The beauty of Spring is so refreshing and awe inspiring!
Does the LOVE in your LIFE feel the same way?
I’m struck in my scripture study this morning by a revelatory truth…My LOVE for others and myself is directly impacted by my LOVE for God and His ways. Loving God matters more than being loved.
Being in triune unity in spirit and in truth ushers in the presence and fullness of God’s LOVE.
As a created being, made in the image of God, we are also triune in our very nature. Being in unity with the Trinity, God, three in one, Spirit-Soul-Body with our sameness in Him we are able to operate in oneness of LOVE in Him and with Him.
I invite YOU to pause…stop in your tracks…let that reality sink into your thoughts.
Thoughts like that can transform your life.
Let it resonate. Let it take hold. Let it take root in the soil of your soul. Consider the daffodils in the picture, how deeply rooted they are.
I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your heart as you trust in Him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous LOVE. – Ephesians 3:17
Bless YOU!
LifeVictory Coaching theme for February … Love, Laughter & Liberty!
GalleryThankfulness in the midst of hardship
How hard is that?
Hardship is part of life for sure. But do we let the hardship harden our hearts, make us cynical, sarcastic and angry?
OR, do we let it grow our appreciation for the lessons learned, count our blessings, grow in character and resilience?
A few years back I did some study of centenarians, 100 years old +, two things they had in common was an ability to take life’s ups and downs, the good, the bad and the ugly, in stride. And the faith to believe that hardships do pass and to find humor wherever possible. And, by all means counting their blessings.
I wanna be like that!
Resilience and Thankfulness play such and important role in our lives and making lemonade out of life’s lemons and yummy cherry pie out of the pits!
Happy Thanksgiving y’all!
GalleryMommy Baby Rescue
Getting the text at 8:15 a.m. “I am at the clinic right now” dropped a lead weight in my gut. Everything in me screamed, “No! Ending the life of your 5 1/2 month old baby in your womb will not solve your problems, it creates new ones!”
We had talked the night before and I shared my story of my abortion trauma experience and the things I so wished I had been told by the abortion clinic – the same one she was sitting in, but 34 years prior.
She didn’t want to go through with the abortion but she hadn’t been given other options either. This appointment was her 5th visit – every time she would walk out of the clinic because in her words, “Why should my baby be punished with a death sentence, he’s done nothing wrong. How could I hurt him like that? I just don’t know what else to do!”
I texted her back to see if we could meet, I will come to you. And would it be ok to bring a friend who is a specialist in open adoptions to at least give her more information about her options. All of them. And also, the known risk factors and aftermath of abortion trauma, especially at 5 1/2 months pregnant. Women Deserve Full Disclosure
I could feel the adrenal rushing through my body as the thought came to my mind, “MommyBabyRescue!” In my mind’s eye I saw an enormous guardian angel standing behind and protecting a pregnant mommy with her hands gently and protectively placed over her burgeoning belly. It was a beautiful picture [...]
GalleryOops!! October came and went and here is october’s themed focus!
Hhhmmm, when I think about being OTHERS FOCUSED my mind goes to the words of Christ when He talked about LOVE, in fact, no greater LOVE. Than to lay down one’s life for others.
Not an easy thing given how people treat us in this life at times. Choose to forgive them. Not easy, but very freeing.
Don’t get me wrong – I’m not saying to go around and be someone’s whipping post or door mat.
But, I am saying that no matter what others do to you, consider this, you are only responsible for your response to what is done to you.
Being mindful to treat others the same exact way you would want them to treat you.
Ya know, I think if we were all honest with ourselves there are times when we provoke a quarrel or a fight. Yes, come on, admit it! We all are guilty to one degree or another. When was the last time you were hungry, angry, lonely or tired? That is the greatest likelihood when that can happen. So H.A.L.T.!
When you know you are hungry, angry, lonely or tired take a step back – take care of your responses to others and value yourself in the process.
Oh!! I love this! The merciful, kind, and generous person benefits the self for their deeds return to BLESS them, but those who are cruel and callous to the wants of others brings on them self retribution.
And, the light in the eyes of those whose heart is JOYFUL rejoices the hearts of others, and good news nourishes the bones! [...]
GalleryContent – Contented – Contentment
Been thinking a lot about contentment lately. And, interrelated words, including contention, the opposite of contentment.
I implore a greater understanding and mindset of contentment.
“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Proverbs 17:22
BE Cheerful. In the midst of any circumstance, as much as is possible.
“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5
Gratitude and Satisfaction with where you are in the here and now, is the present.
“All the days of the oppressed are wretched, but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.”
Proverbs 15:15
Abundance flows out of a cheerful heart.
“A heart at peace gives LIFE to the body, but envy rots the bones.” Proverbs 14:30
So please, consider this, above all else, GUARD YOUR HEART. [...]
GalleryPerfect Character, Perfect Bliss
“These seven descriptions make up a perfect character, and the seven blessings appended when combined constitute perfect bliss.”
“The whole seven rise one above another like the steps of a ladder of light, and the blessings appropriate to each grow out of the virtues described.”
“At the close of the seven BEatitudes of character comes an eighth and double benediction bestowed on the persecuted condition as a result of holiness. The whole makeup a celestial octave of benediction.”
– C. H. Spurgeon
I love the richness and depth of Spurgeon’s writings!
Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount was one of Jesus’ first teachings to the masses. In Matthew 5…Blessed are the poor in spirit; for their’s is the kingdom of heaven. (The first step of the ladder is low, and the more readily reached. Those who know their spiritual poverty are the only ones who by faith can lay hold on the true riches of grace.)
Blessed are they that mourn: for they will be comforted. (To their sense of need is now added holy sorrow for sin; this leads them to Jesus, [...]
GalleryGod ISN’T Buddha, or a genie in a bottle, a magician or the fairy god mother…
How much do we beckon God to help and rescue us wanting Him to wave a magic wand or pop out of a genie’s bottle to help us in our time of need?
Don’t get me wrong God wants good for our lives. GOD is a relational and real person of the divine trinity – HOLY SPIRIT – revealer of truth, FATHER GOD, and JESUS CHRIST.
I realize this may be a difficult concept to grasp.
GOD wants a close loving relationship with His CREATION. YOU are His DIVINE CREATION created in His image. (Genesis 1)
His HEART is good towards YOU!
JESUS said the greatest commandment is to LOVE The Lord your God with ALL your heart, mind, soul and strength, and your neighbor as yourself.
YOU as God’s created being have His DNA, we are born that way. In HIS IMAGE!. It is His perfect will for our lives to reflect His image in the world. Walking in communion WITH HIM. Looking to Him, seeking Him for answers, not the world and it’s man made systems, customs and behaviors that have thrown the universe out of sync from the divine intent.
I PRAY for you to grow in deeper understanding so that you can be reconciled to the one who CREATED YOU FOR LOVE AND RELATIONSHIP.
Peace be with you.
3 words are rattling around (well actual
3 words are rattling around (well actually more!) but 3 that are intertwined and relevant in a number of conversations I have had with various people the last couple of weeks…actually ever since Independence Day. Independence…Interdependence…Codependence.
Let’s start with defining the core word in each…DEPENDENCE. Just fyi, I will be using the American Dictionary of the English Language – Noah Webster 1828. “Reliance; confidence; trust; a resting on. A state of being subject to the will of an intelligent cause, power or operation. Connection by which one thing is sustained by another, in its place, operations, or is affected by it. Inability to sustain itself without the aid of.”
Okay….so foundationally there we are. Now, INDEPENDENCE…
“A state in which a person does not rely on others for subsistence; ability to support one’s self. A state of being not dependent; complete exemption from control, or the power of others. A state of mind in which a person acts without bias or influence from others.”
Interestingly enough, the words INTERDEPENDENCE and CODEPENDENCE were not in the 1828 Noah Webster’s Dictionary.
So, I went to my iPhone app dictionary.
Interdependence…”of two or more people or things dependent on each other.”
Codependence…”excessive emotional or psychological reliance on a partner, typically a partner who requires support due to an illness or addiction.”
It has been interesting how many times these words have come up in random conversations this month. I think partially because we just celebrated America’s Independence Day on July 4th.
But, in the greater scope of things that fact that we are created for relationship. We may have temperaments that are more [...]
Independence Day vs. Interdependence Day
Independence Day vs. Interdependence Day – The difference may seem obvious but I would ask in the bigger picture of life is the all out drive for independence a good thing?
One of the L.I.F.E.V.I.C.T.O.R.Y. Life Principles being INTERDEPENDENCE is a reminder of how intertwined we human beings are. I recently read an article stating that the number one human condition is a deep sense of loneliness. We really were created for social connection – we need each other.
Is there someone you can connect with today? Reach out! http://ow.ly/i/2wXM3
My response to a recent facebook post –
My response to a recent facebook post – just thought I’d share here.
I completely agree that awareness is essential in relationships and to not throw our hearts “into the ring” prematurely.
Proverbs 4:23 – Above all else, guard your heart for it will affect everything else in your life (It is the wellspring of life)
I do not for a second discount the hurt and trauma anyone has experienced from bad relationships.
However, we as women, me included (I’m 51) married for 32+ years, post-abortive with my husband (had an abortion while planning our wedding) – that choice created MASSIVE relationship dynamics for us both. It’s truly only by the grace of God we have survived together and now are finally beginning to thrive as a couple. But it has been hard work at times, HARD work on both of our parts. But worth the effort.
Our culture has created a mess. The lies we buy into as truth can impact us individually and our relationships with the opposite sex. I personally cried out to God years ago saying “I couldn’t live like this anymore” with regards to my marriage. I sensed so strongly that I had been hyper-focusing my finger pointing on my husband and I had three pointing back at me. OUCH!
I also had to look at and get rid of the log in my own eye, so that I could have a better view of anything I was doing to provoke my husbands behavior – he’s only human too!
Again, I must add here – I do not discount any pain, suffering or trauma you may have experienced in relationships from truly bad character.
But, we as [...]