Powered by the Son

  

• The other day, as I was traveling along the same old road I have driven so many times, I was thinking about life in general. Do you do that as you drive? Do you use that time to think? I do. I was thinking about how my life has changed so much in the past 5 years. What all I have been through-good and bad. The blessing's God has given me. The strength He has given me when I have faced struggles. Thinking about the challenges I have yet to face, and wondering where this road will lead.
• As I looked over at a beautiful church I always admire-I noticed something I have never realized before. In front of said church, was a long row of power lines. It was early morning, and the sun was shining bright on this church, and it struck me.

• All of the sunshine soaked power lines in front of said church were in the shape of beautiful crosses.
   

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• I cant imagine living my life without the power of the Holy Spirit.

  

•  The Power in the cross. The thought of it overwhelms me. God's power plant has no power outages. It runs 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. It has the ability to power the whole world. It's not solar powered-but it is powered by the Son.
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•  Powered by the "Son" that died on the cross for you.

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

- 1 Corinthians 1:18

Birthday Beauty!

• Look. At. Her.  Isn't she adorable? Check out the rolls! I love the fat baby roll legs!  Squishy pinchin' soft sweet baby!  So Cute.
•  She must have been a beautiful baby..because baby look at her now! NOW she is all grown up and is celebrating her 65th Birthday, TODAY!  You would never guess her age when you look at her.  She looks at least 15 years younger than she is. She has never been under the knife..she just comes by it naturally.  Well, that and the  pink Dove bar soap and the ol'standby, Oil of Delay. 
•  Everyone wants to know her secret for looking so young.  I will let you in on her secret beauty regimen.  She taught me that beauty is radiated from the inside.  It can not be bottled, or improved by surgical enhancements, or bought from a clothing rack, but by true love and kindness. 
• Mom, you have taught me to love truly, unconditionally, walk proudly, live without limitations, and most of all, what a true mother means.  Thank you for showing me the true meaning of beauty.  You have the most beautiful heart I have ever seen.

Happy Birthday, beauty!

Leap of Faith...

• Skydiving:  The sport of jumping out of an airplane at a moderate altitude and executing various body maneuvers before  pulling the rip cord of a parachute. 
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•   Trust: Firm reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something.
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• Skydiving is a leap of faith.  So is trust.  You are jumping out of the airplane, relying on your parachute will function properly, and that you will make safely to the ground. 
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• It's hard to trust.  Hard to trust that parachute will function like it should.  It's hard to put yourself out there and give your all.  Jumping out into the blue and praying you will make it safely to the ground and not get hurt.  Scariest feeling ever.
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• I compare trust to skydiving because they both scare me so much.  I have tried to trust in many who have failed me when I took that leap. Some I trusted not only once, but time and time again, even knowing I was in for a hard fall every time.   It hurt so much, it made me afraid to try again.  Afraid to trust, similar to a scared skydiver afraid to jump out of the plane.
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• God is my parachute.  Everyday, I take chances...leaps of faith. He won't fail me.  He has me in that plane, he prepares my heart and mind everyday for all good and bad that enters my life..and if I trust in Him, as He tells me to- He will keep His promises.    If I would really look hard, I would see X marks the spot..but not on the ground, but in the cross.  The cross He died on so I  can jump- take these chances, make mistakes, learn these lessons in life, and trust.  TRUST that all will be ok.  Because He is my parachute.  I can trust in Him that everything will be alright and enjoy all that life has to offer- while seeing all the beautiful views all the way...
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Psalm 56:11 When I am afraid, I put my trust in You.

Sorry

• 5 letters. Such a small word for a word that can encompass so much. Everyone makes mistakes. They are life lessons. Nobody is perfect. As the quote says, "To err is human, to forgive divine." I'm a firm believer in the power of forgiveness. When someone is truly sorry, they have learned from their mistake. They make the changes necessary not to do the same wrong thing again. The hurt and pain caused to others has an opportunity to heal.
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• Sorry can mean so much. Many times it can just be thrown out as a band aid. But the wound never really heals. Usually because that apology wasn't really meant. Nobody wants to be on the receiving end of a broken record sorry. That's the apology that is given over and over for the same thing. That person keeps forgiving only to have the same thing repeatedly happen. That wound will never get an opportunity to heal. Only get deeper and hurt more.
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• When you say sorry do you mean it? Do the wounds you inflict onto others heal or leave permanent scars?
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"Right actions in the future are the best apologies for bad actions in the past."  Tyron Edwards

The Power of a Hug...

• Somedays, there's only one thing that will make it better. Those moments when you need to feel the power of an embrace. Hugs are like medicine in your arms. Heart to heart, the power of love, all entwined and engaged between two.

• The "congratulations" hug...

• The" I'm sorry" hug....
  
  

• The "I will love you forever" hug...
  




• The "you are so special to me" hug




• The "thanks for being my friend" hug.
  
  

• The "everything is going to be ok" hug...

• The "good job" hug...
  
  

• The "make it all better" hug...

• The "I love you so much, I don't want to ever let you go again" hug...
  




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• The "I mean it, I never will be ready to let you go..not ever " hug...

• The "I promised to never forsake you" hug.
  

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  God keeps His promises. He promised to never forsake me. I know to trust in Him. Good times and bad. He's got his arms around me and everything's going to be alright. Why? Because He's holding me. Every day. All day. During the good, during the bad. He won't let go.





• Hugs.




• Have




• Understanding of




• God's




• Salvation




• Go embrace His love. It's the best HUG you will ever receive!

My Cup Runneth Over

• Thirsty? I know a place that provides free refills.
• There are times in our lives we become thirsty. Not physically, but spiritually. Tough times can harden the heart. Struggles in day to day life can create a thirst. Thirst for peace. Thirst for happiness. Thirst for content.
• Many attempt to quench their thirst the wrong way. Many think materialism will make them happy. So they pay for happiness. Acquiring "stuff" to fill a void. No matter how much is bought-that void is never filled. Only a quick high and another ache of want returns.
• The lonely and lost sometime find temporary love. It's a false love-not a true love. A toxic love that poisons the heart, that will never provide what a real love would.
• Some attempt to wash the pain down with alcohol and/or drugs. Usually this bad habit quickly becomes an addiction. Destroys families. That void is never filled, in fact-it becomes bigger. A deep dark hole that some never emerge from.
• The hardships of life can also cause sadness, withdrawing from friends and family, very often causing depression. What someone feels is just a "bad mood" slowly becomes a way of life. A darkness that many cannot find the light.
• This thirst for the love of our lives is in our hands, if we would offer it to Him.
• It's so simple. If we would just gladly offer our spiritual cup to the One who gives free refills. He will fill your heart and life with all you need, if you would just allow Him to.
• This is not something that comes easy to me. When I'm struggling and hurting, I have to remind myself what is lacking. I go to Him and He gives me more than I need. My cup runneth over.
  
• You may feel like you are in a dry place, but the Lord can still quench your thirst. He provides ample water. Even if you are lost in a spiritual desert. If you go to Him, He will provide you a waterfall.
  

• I pray that God, the source of hope will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the Power of the Holy Spirit.
• Romans 15:13
  
  

Over the Rainbow

• Do you ever feel like Dorothy? I do.
• Some days I feel like I'm lost and trying to find my way home. If you are at this point in your life, you probably know exactly what I mean. A tornado has whipped into your life and it changes who you are. I think everyone has that feeling from time to time. Maybe it's that you don't feel like you are being your true self, reaching your full potential. Perhaps it's that you aren't in the right job. Some may feel as though they are in the wrong relationship. Maybe you are coming out of a relationship and learning to adjust. Whatever it maybe, sometimes we are just trying to find our way back home.
• By going home I mean reaching your full potential. Becoming who you are meant to be. The tornado? Life experiences. Good and bad. That change you. Change your goals and dreams. The "lions, and tigers, and bears," are our fears. Fear of change. Fear of the unknown. Fear of what others might think. Fear of being hurt. They prevent you from walking down that path to get back home.
• It would be wonderful if we could be like Dorothy, click our ruby slippers and say, "There's no place like home," and we would open our eyes and wake up where we want to be. Wouldn't it?
  
  We can. We just have to follow the yellow brick road! The road being faith. The faith that God has a plan. Beyond the rainbow.
• You aren't alone. You have your friends to travel along that unknown path to find the way home. He gave us a heart. He gave us a brain. He gave us bravery. If we have the faith to do it.
• I'm ready if you're ready. Close your eyes and repeat after me. There's no place like home. There's no place like home.
• Now go find home. Go find you. The you that God meant for you to be. Go fly above the rainbow and reach your full potential.

Somewhere over the rainbow

Skies are blue

And the dreams that you dare to dream

Really do come true