Memorial Remembering

It was one year ago today Dad suffered the stroke. It is amazing how well he is doing considering all the factors. For me, it is like it was yesterday, fresh in my mind. Hardest year of my 54 years. It's a day of celebrating despite fear and fatigue and a day of giving thanks.

The birds sing readily without effort it seems. Do they have days they prefer to sit in their nest and mope?
The trees grow greener; is it a struggle?
Flowers bloom profusely; do they feel unappreciated?
Seasons come and go; do they ever want a year off?
Moons wax and wane; do they seek a relief moon?
The sun gets up early every day; does it ever want to sleep in?

Memorial Day is
a time to remember
a time to reflect
a time of gratitude
for what was
for what is
for what will be
people need people
family needs family
friends need friends
all need God

Moon Thoughts and Images

facades

my facade of stone
is my own
doing
hiding often my
truth to lie
always
no one can feel
my pain
no one can heal
my heart
time is a friend
to all
some day to end
all suffering

these are the days we live

a slow start

a short night

hope found

hope lost

joy abounds

joy receded

these are the days we live

prayers uttered

prayers answered

mercy given

mercy received

peace found

peace lost

these are the days we live

grace missing

grace given

love lost

love found

faith weakens

faith grows

these are the days we live

spirit leaves

spirit arrives

souls depart

souls enter

hearts slow

hearts increase

these are the days we live

Release

A heart of pain



And a body of age,


Finds hope in the rain


With each turn of the page.


A spirit of loss


And a mind of fear


Knows love is not just a game of toss


When God is so near.


A soul of restless wander


And a life of waste


Will not His mercy squander


In fleeting moments of haste.

truth in the darkness

rescues

Heroes rescue me all day long.



Angels protect me all night.


My life is covered by God's good grace.


There is no need to fear.


I am blessed beyond measure.

Living and Re-Living

The word is sacred and leads to holy living



The spirit is grateful and becomes a life of total giving.


The heart is true and finds a path of love.


The soul is filled with hope and strength from God above.


The mind is calm and knows its maker's voice.


The body is at rest and believes in holy choice.


The life is faithful and behaves at a steadfast pace.


The core is joyful and seeks God's face.


The presence is sacred and leads to godly living.


The vessel is pure and becomes reverent reliving.

Backyard Sermon

A quiet Sunday in the backyard finds much needed peace and calm. White cotton floats through a cerulean sea above the green giants swaying gently. Worldly clamor is minimal. God's creation hums along steadily in the songs of cardinals and mocking birds, neighbors and pets, and breezes and beating hearts. Joy and hope are restored. Life is persistent in placing exclamation points along the way. We journey but once but it's a lifetime of blessings and love that sustain us. Releasing all negative thought and pursuing all positive action is the agenda we must follow daily. Storing the happy, peaceful times is necessary for getting us through the difficult patches that come to all. God never leaves our presence unless we move away from Him. Holding on to our dreams and wishes, we survive all that life sends our way. Believing a sacred existence is our truth for living.

life's view is your choice

Finding peace is like finding nirvana.



Knowing hope is like knowing forever.


Believing joy is like believing everything good.


Trusting faith is like trusting a friend.


Accepting grace is like accepting life.


Releasing fear is like releasing a big sigh.

life lessons to learn

When my fortress crumbles,
hope rebuilds it.
When my heart breaks,
love mends it.
When my spirit goes missing,
joy finds it.
When my soul hurts,
prayer heals it.
When my body is lethargic,
quiet restores it.
Praise be to God.

rainy day comfort

With the rain

fall tears of relief.
With the warm breeze
appears God's smile.
I quiet my mind and
still my heart.
The peace floods my soul.
Hope is reborn and
with it my spirit soars.
Once again fears subside.
Troubles melt away
even if only temporarily.

Daily Choice

Sitting in the still of early morning,
everything awakens.
Birds sing.
Flowers blossom.
Grass grows.
Trees sway.
Neighbors start their day.
All have a choice.
A. To make it a good day
B. To ignore life's troubles.
C. To seek a deeper layer of peace.
D. To grow closer to God.
E. To extend His love to others.
F. None of the above.
G. All of the above.
Did you choose All of the above?
Good. Me too.
One more thing. You must choose again tomorrow and the next day, and the day after that, and...well you get the picture.
How you live is a daily choice.
DO WHAT YOU MUST.
LOVE ALL YOU CAN DO.
BE ALL YOU CAN BE.
NEVER LOSE SIGHT OF MIRACLES AND HOPE!

*****

It's easy to psyche myself up when things go smoothly but at the first sign of difficulty, I buckle like a cardboard house in the rain. We have all heard it said, "Into every one's life a little rain must fall." We must remember our faith will help us withstand the floods. We never  have to sink or swim. God is always our lifesaver. Let him be that. He wants to. He will never leave us. If he is missing the we moved and left no forwarding address. Running away is a coward's way. With God's power and strength we have NO reason to be fearful or lose hope. God is our everything.

*****

Positive messages are easy to find but hard to believe and follow. By releasing fears and worries to God we find a strength we never realized we had. He does the heavy lifting and all we have to do is offer the baggage. God will always get it moved and help us to never have to bear the weight again.

Life Stories

Life is a question.
How do I choose the right path?
Life is an answer.
Follow God.
Life is prayer.
Lord, in your mercy bless those I love.
Life is song.
Row, row row your boat;
Choose happiness to stay afloat.
Life is poem.
Live your best all the way.
Smile and give everyday.
Life is a dream.
Merrily, merrily, merrily.

time table

Moment by moment

I live a life of blessing.
Minute by minute
I live a life of hope.
Hour by hour
I live a life of peace.
Month by month
I live a life of faith.
Year by year
I live a life for and with God.

Thoughts for a Tuesday

Standing at the back door of life

She sees clearly how far she has come.
She has ho idea how much further the wilderness will take her.
However, she does know loneliness and fear will not be her companions.
Life has bee full of sacred treasures.
The wilderness holds secret surprises even the heart cannot imagine.


Driving toward the sun on the horizon she squints and finds the brightness full of promise and possibilities.
The darkness behind her has faded into this glorious hope.
Peace of mind and strength of heart stretch before her and the path is clear of imagined trouble.
Faithfully she follows and the journey is no longer one to fear or dread.
God is her abiding guide. Pleasant memories and great expectations become her life force.
Life holds many things that cannot be changed or altered.
We can choose our perspective on what comes our way.
Choosing to allow negative to slide off our backs or be a catalyst to grow stronger is ideal.
Releasing the negatives and forging forward with positive energizing hope can certainly increase our pleasure of living.

sit and listen

come and

sit a spell

listen

for God's voice

it will direct

your way

the 90/10 rule

Finding God is 90%



Just showing up.


The other 10% is


Listening.


Studying.


Listening.


Praying.


Listening.


Writing.


Listening.

one soul

ramblings of a tired mind

****
My body craves rest and
my spirit cries out for peace.
My hope is a daily struggle.
My joy is a never ending quest.
My soul aches for clarity of life.
My mind races to conclusions.
My spirit tries to catch up.

****


Go the way of surrender.
Find a life of hope.
Study and search for joy.
Accept a Savior's touch.

****


Lord, in your mercy,

Please send
Sleep,
Respite,
Hope,
Healing,
Rejuvenation,
and your sweet intervention.
Amen.

Soul Recovery

We call it hour of the soul.

These wee hours of morning
when sleep won't come and
thoughts won't go.


Maybe if there was a switch.
We could call it time for renewal
and turn it off allowing healing
if for only a night.


But we struggle to do whatever
it takes to find a peaceful moment
where the body releases control and
the mind releases all thoughts.

That's when hope returns.
Peace is found and the joy
of sleep returns--restful
sleep---thoughtless minds
and quiet spirits.
A soul is recovered.

sometimes...

Sometimes



The words are labored.


The thoughts are scattered.


The pain is unbearable.


The fear is paralyzing.


The hope is missing.


The joy is disguised.


The sleep is elusive.


The purpose is unclear.


The grace is forgotten.


The prayers are lost.


The scripture is misread.


The hymn is silent.


The heart is worn.


The sermon is unheard.


The mercy is ignored.


But God is still present


Waiting patiently for our return


to His warm embrace.

hour of the soul

We call it hour of the soul.

These wee hours of morning
when sleep won't come and
thoughts won't go.

Maybe if there was a switch.
We could call it time for renewal
and turn it off allowing healing
if for only a night.

But we struggle to do whatever
it takes to find a peaceful moment
where the body releases control and
the mind releases all thoughts.

That's when hope returns.
Peace is found and the joy
of sleep returns--restful
sleep---thoughtless minds
and quiet spirits.

self exam is often needed

Mind Escape

Fatigue

Though too tired for today's tasks.



I will give God my reins.


Though lost and confused


I will allow God to give me understanding


And a path to follow.


Though weary from cumulative worries


I will seek God's strength.


Through fearful of many unsettled details


I will place them all in God's capable hands.


Though helpless and uncertain


I will not be alone as long


As I have God with me.

Spilling

Spilling my guts


On the page is

Sometimes painfully wrenching

As if shedding blood.

Facing one's truth hurts.

Giving up the facts and exposing your soul is

A frightening experience.

No one tries to be open to

Scrutiny and possible criticism

Feeling vulnerable is uncomfortable.

Mothers are the best!

Authenticity

God gave me a gentle spirit;

I will demonstrate.
God gave me a loving heart;
I will demonstrate.
God gave me a joyful soul;
I will demonstrate.
God gave me hope;
I will demonstrate.
God gave me a measure of faith;
I will demonstrate.

God does!

Life Support

Nature Melts Troubles Away

The early chill

Melts into the sun's warmth.
The dark silence is
Illuminated by God's light.
The quiet dawn
Awakens to a chorus of song birds.
The night's troubles fade away.
Hope and promise appear.
Tears dry up.
The heart opens and surrenders
To abundant joy, waiting to fill
This empty vessel.

Morning Grace

A cool spring morning
I hear God's voice through the song birds' diverse vocal range.
I see God's face in the tiniest spring blossom.
I feel God's presence above all personal pain and fear knowing life is good to me.
I taste God's goodness through every waking cell in my body.
I smell God's sweet fragrance through the freshness of His earth.

I speak.
God listens.
I hear God's reply.
I listen.
I know His love and mercy.
I am sustained.
I am at peace.

Fatigue melts away.
I am prepared for the day.
Why can't every waking moment be this blissful?
How do I block it or allow it to disappear under troubled thoughts?
A fresh perspective is what it is all about.

Releasing negative.
Embracing positive.
Ignoring sadness.
Enjoying goodness.
Letting go of worry.
Accepting serenity.
Changing my view and attitude is what gets me through complicated, uncomfortable times. Fast approaching is a year since that last day of May (Dad's stroke) that changed me forever. I thank God for never leaving our sides. I know His grace is above all trouble. I remember all the days I could never have stepped past the closed door of my heart if He had not held the key. I remember all the days I wish it had never happened but it did and my faith grew. I remember all the "why's" I asked that were always answered with "why not"? I remember all the positive that carried us all to now. This day. FAITH. HOPE. LOVE.

finding grace

Lord in you mercy

Help me know

My purpose.

Help me understand

Life's mysteries.

Help me tether

To hope.

Help me realize

The good.

Help me trust

Your grace.

Begging....

My body cries out with fatigue

begging for mercy, I

relinquish to rest and inactivity.

My mind cries out with worry

begging for hope, I 

 give in to quiet and peaceful listening.

My heart cries out with dread

begging for answers, I

allow for time and eternal solutions.

My spirit cries out with pain

begging for healing, I

submit to healthy cures.

My soul cries out for peace

begging for calm living and

I accept God's grace.

faith, hope and hope (we all need lots of hope)

When God says stop,

Halt where you are.
When God says listen.
Focus souly on Him.
When God says do,
Do wholeheartedly.
When Gods says consider,
Go inward and wait.
When God says accept,
Receive graciously.
When God says trust,
Question not.
When God says believe,
Do so with your whole heart, mind and body.

need

There is no need

To cry except to release tension.

There is no need

To scream but to loosen pent up anger.

There is no need

To quit as a new day approaches.

There is no need

To not pray as God is always listening.

There is no need

To fear as we are not alone.

There is no need

To run away and hide as God is there too.

Friendly Face

Lost on a lonely piece of road

I seek a familiar face.
God is my only companion and
He is much too silent.
Does He expect me to find
My way on my own?
Does He want me to ask
Him for directions?
Does He want me to realize
I am not alone?
He is by my side.
Found on a lonely stretch of road
God is a friendly face and guide.