I’m not alone. And neither are you.

Sometimes, life seems like a great Big SMACKDOWN ! I mean, you jump a hurdle, like maybe get over an illness or your family’s finances improve, than Smack! Before you can finish the victory jig, your face-down in the dirt again.

   Take this pandemic, for instance. Finally, businesses and parks are starting to open. It feels safer to leave our homes again, then smack! “Two Inch Long Murder Hornets land on U.S. Soil!” Wait, what?!

Then, of course, I have my own personal ups and downs, like a scary thing that happened yesterday. It started with a “Help, Dave!” and ended with a “Why, God?!” 

After a winter-long exercising slump, plus a health setback, Dave and I finally started exercising again. We were muscle-toning and walking our ever-lovin’ hearts out. It felt great. In fact, I said to Dave, “I feel a decade younger!” Yay!

Then, smack! 12 hours later, my back goes out. I’m crumpled on the floor, crying out in pain. Just like that. No warning. Today, I’m hobbling around like I’m a decade older, not younger. sigh…

But, fortunately, I have backup. God’s word and His good Spirit will see me through this storm, like He has seen me through every storm I’ve ever faced ever since I came to know him in college, lo’ those maaany years ago. (No, I ain’t sayin’ how many) (Yes, college educated folks say ain’t)

The point is?

I am not alone…I may have struggles and doubts. I may have pains that make me shout! But I am not alone.

~~”For it is written, ‘I will never leave you not forsake you.’ ” Hebrews 13:5b

~~”For whatever was written in former times was written for our instruction that through endurance and the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. ” Romans 15:4 ESV

^{~~ “}And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 ESV

~~”Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Philippians 4:8 ESV

How ’bout you? How has God helped you through some storms? Please share. Your story may be a lifesaver for someone else….

The Day Before Easter

The gore that bore my sins
I want to look away
I want to hide the scars like eggs on Easter day.

But look at them I must,
if I would understand,
the truth that it’s MY sin
that pierced his sacred hands.

🎶 O sacred Head, now wounded,
with grief and shame weighed down;
now scornfully surrounded
with thorns, thine only crown;
O sacred Head, what glory,
what bliss ’til now was thine!
Yet, though despised and gory,
I joy to call thee mine. 🎶

Two thousands and twenty years ago, the night before the morning we celebrate as Easter, things looked pretty grim.
But joy comes in the morning…

image from my art journal. 

POSERS…

Do you see them?…

The inchworms.

They’re called Camouflaged Loopers.  Big blue one on the left, two smaller browns on the right.

With bits of sticky spit they glue bits of flower on their backs so they blend in.

The blue one is in the process of dropping it’s blue flower costume for a brownish yellow one to fit in on this new flower he’s decided to eat.

See the yellow and brown under the blue?

Clever little poser.

Pity. I like the blue so much better. Really makes him stand out.

How ’bout you? Are you afraid to stand out?

Are you a poser, changing who you are depending on who you’re with at the time?

Been there, done that.

Hi, I’m Gloris. I’m a camouflaged looper.

I’ve shed my good “clothes” (i.e. attitudes, behaviors)  for cruder ones and my bad “clothes” for good when it’s helped me blend in.

Tsk. tsk. tsk…  =[

Well, here’s the “clothes” the Bible says we should always shed and never put on:

“But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.  Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self  with its practices”  Colossians 3:9

And here’s the clothes we should always wear no matter who we’re with. Read these verses slowly. Chew on them like you would a good flower if you were an inch worm =]

“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.” :12 and 13.

Let’s pray…

   The Poser’s Prayer:

Father, do you want me to be a Camouflaged  Looper?  I didn’t think so.  You called me to be a child of light who always speaks the truth. (Ephesians 5:8)

Help me to always lay aside anger, wrath, slander and obscene talk. Help me to speak the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

Help me to be compassionate, kind, humble, meek and patient. Help me to put up with people’s faults and forgive them when they’re wrong.

Send me forth as a light, a beacon for you, Father. May I walk in the light as You are in the light. (1 John 5:7).  In Jesus’ name — the One who never changes (Hebrews 13:8) — Amen!

Do you know Jesus? Not just about Him, but really know Him who made the camouflaged looper, the sun, moon, stars, and you?

If not, click on the pic below to get on His flower. =]

What time is it?

What time is it?

“Timing is everything”, they say.  I don’t know who “they” are, but Jesus agrees with them.  —

:6 Now the Feast of the Jews, the Feasts of the Booths, was near.  Therefore His brothers said to Him, “Leave here and go into Judea, so that Your disciples also may see Your works which You are doing…Therefore Jesus told them, “The right time for me has not yet come; for you any time is right.”

At just the right time, Christ came to the earth and at just the right time, he died for us.

 “You see, at just the right time, while we were still sinners, Christ died for the ungodly…” (Romans 5:6)

About time, King Solomon wrote:

“There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven— (Ecclesiastes)

click pic for source

Let’s Pray:

Father, help us to use our time wisely; to stay in close contact with You so we know what time it is, and for what purpose under the heaven. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

True Grit

True Grit

click pic for source

I saw the movie, “True Grit”, the other day.  No comment.

Like my daddy always said, “If you can’t say somethin’ nice, don’t say nothin’ at all.” Oh, wait, that was Thumper’s dad…

Anywho,  I Youtubed scenes of the old John Wayne version  to compare and came across this colorful old cowboy, instead (see below).

The video’s about 3 minutes long, but if that’s too long for you,  click on the “Youtube button” at the bottom of the video, and skip ahead to 2:19.  That’s the main part.

Outside my window

A new day I see

And only I can determine

what kind of day it will be

It can be busy, sunny, laughing, or gay,

Or boring,

cold,

unhappy

and gray.

My own state of mind is the determining key.

For I am the only person

I make myself be.

 

I can be patient with those that may not understand

Or belittle ‘em,

hurt ‘em

as much as I can.

I can enjoy what I do

And make it seem fun,

Or gripe

And complain

And try to hurt someone.

But I have faith in myself

And believe what I say.

And I personally intend

To make the very best

Of each day.

Stop! Drop! and Pray! **

Let’s pray:

Oh, Father, your Word says, “gray hair is the crown of the aged”, (Proverbs 16:31)  Thank you for this gray haired gentleman, and his poem’s reminder that “my own state of mind is the determining key, for I am the only person I make myself be.”

Your Word says, “As He thinks within himself, so he is.” (Proverbs 23:7)

I want to ” Fix [my] thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable…excellent and worthy of praise.” (Philippians 4:8)

And I want to fix my eyes on You.”  In Jesus’ name, Amen

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” ~~ Hebrews 12:2

**”Cowboys’ Prayer” picture found at TrekLens**

Feelin’ the love, baby?!

FEELIN’ THE LOVE, BABY?!

Are you feeling the love today? Are you givin’ it away?   Well, that’s what you’re here for, if you’re a Christian, and not just on Valentine’s Day. (Hey! That rhymes!)

We need each other, baby.  (Sorry, I’ve been listening to a lot of jazz today because of Esperanza Spalding’s epic Grammy win over Justin Bieber last night, and it’s showin’ up in my lingo.

Esperanza Spalding; click pic for source

I’ve been googling Spalding to see who in the world this big-haired bassist is!  But I digress…)

What I’m trying to say is,

WE NEED FELLOWSHIP.

It’s not just a word for small talk and cookies in the church basement.

click pic for source

When a crisis hits, it can be a  matter of life and death.

Take the “peaceful and unsuspecting people” I just read about in the Bible today.

There they were, isolated, alone, living far away from their fellow Israelites.  So, when a bunch of warriors attacked them one day, there was no one to help….

“There was no one to rescue them because they lived a long way from Sidon and had no relationship with anyone else.”  ~~ Judges 18:28

And we shouldn’t isolate ourselves, either,  because we too have an enemy hanging around, waiting to attack:

“Be self‑controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” ~~ 1 Peter 5:8

And he’s not waiting to give us kiss either!

click image for source

So, if your theme song is, “I am a rock!  I am an i-i-i-land.”  You’d better change it quick, because “woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9)

“Two [are] better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.  For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow… Ecclesiastes 4:9

Stop! Drop! and Pray!

Let’s pray: Father, thank you for loving me and thank you for your Word that is a “lamp unto my feet and a light  unto my path” (Psalm 119:105).

And thanks for the reminder from Your Word that I need fellowship.  I need people to love and to love me.

So, show me how I might be pushing people away — “Search me, Oh God, and know my heart.  Try me and know my anxious thoughts.  And see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.” (Psalm 139:23)

In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Do you know the Lord? He’d love for you to “Be His”.

Click below to watch a SHORT, cute reminder of how much He loves us.  Happy Valentine’s Day!

Don’t cry over spilled juice :(

Don't cry over spilled juice. 😦

Have you ever sucked your breakfast off the kitchen counter through a straw?  sigh… I have.  Just a few minutes ago, in fact.

I’m trying a detox diet and I’m living on juice for the next few days.  The ingredients are supposed to be as pure as possible,  so I  invested a lot of money in organic fruits and veggies and borrowed a friend’s juice machine.

This morning I washed a pile of fruit, carefully cored, de-seeded, quartered, and crammed it all down the funnel into the noisy juicer, then, splat!!

Splat?!  The collecting cup had toppled over spilling its valuable contents, and my only option for breakfast, across the counter and under the machine.

whaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!

I was starving!  So I quickly grabbed a straw out of the cupboard and slurped away, but only after snapping a few pictures of the mess for Gloriadelia.  I had a hunch there’d be a lesson in this dietary tragedy somewhere.

And, sure enough, as I slurped, the thought occurred to me, a gentle reminder, a little tap on the shoulder — Am I this eager for God’s Word?

The Bible says we need to crave it like a baby craves its mommy’s milk.

“Like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the Word, so that by it you may grow in respect to your salvation if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.” ~~ 1 Peter 2:2-3

We need to take daily gulps of it to detox from the toxic world around us, and in us,

and to strengthen our faith.

And besides, how will we know what God wants us to do, otherwise?  It’s all there in the Book.

So, here’s a few healthy slurps from God’s Word. Drink up! May they nourish your soul and strengthen your faith during lean times. 🙂

The Lord is upright; He is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in Him.”  Psalm 92:15

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those that love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”  Romans 8:28

“The Lord is near the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”  Psalm 34:18

Do you know the author of the Bible?  Click the pic below to be introduced:

 

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." Galatians 5:22-23

** fruit pic from: http://www.mountainsun.com/images/fruit/pile-of-fruit.jpg

Peony Faith

Peonies, Hidcote Garden, Cotswolds, Gloucestershire taken by UGArdener, a flickr photo

“But thou, O LORD, [art] a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.“ Psalm 3:3

“…thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great.” Psalm 18:35

(You can open the following link in a new tab/window to hear Fernando Ortega sing  Give Me Jesus while your read…)

A sad sight caught my eye as I left my neighborhood this morning.  It tugged at my heart-strings.  All along the road the beautiful blooms on my neighbors’ peonies  had been smacked down to the ground by yesterday’s driving rains, like the peony in the photo above.

The gardener in me wanted to stop the car, run over and lift up their pretty pink and yellow faces.  I wanted gently shake the water off, and restore their dignity, poor things.

Often the driving rains of life smack me face-down into the mud, too.  Just when I’m in full bloom and the weather’s fine, along comes a downpour.

That’s when I need a little help, ’cause, no matter how hard I try, I can’t seem to lift myself back up again.

I have to call for the Gardener to save me.

And when, in particularly desperate times, I add fasting to my pleas, it seems to hurry him up.

He lifts me up, shakes off the rain, restores my dignity.

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” 1 Peter 5:6

Let’s pray:

Oh, Father in Heaven, I’m so glad to be one of the flowers in your garden.  You are the Master Gardener.  You provide all I need to grow  — love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control. ( Galatians 5:22)

Take over today, Father.  May I be a bright, beautiful flower that brings You and the people around me pleasure to be around.  In Jesus’ name, Amen

P.S. Know any flowers you wish were in God’s Garden?  Take a moment to pray for them. 🙂

P.S.S. Click on the fasting links to the right for lots of tips and encouragement to get growing!