Really? Who “really” could change my life?

Posted: April 13, 2015 in Prayers
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Day 6 – Someone who has affected your life, that you have met in the last 4 months. Is that easy? Who have I met that I have spent even a short time chatting with? Is it someone whose path has crossed mine and there was little interaction? Is it someone who I saw from a distance, who caught my attention and I watched? Who could it be? Perhaps there is more than one. Yes, people who have changed how you think, how you act, or how you are. Let me introduce to you Rachel….

Rachel, came to our table in the restaurant to find out what we wanted. A waitress! Rachel is not her real name, because I don’t know her real name. Her smile was half-hearted, her hair disheveled, although you could tell she had tried to get it to stay up, away from her face. Not curly, not straight, just a slight unmanageable wave, coming loose from it’s tie. She was pleasant, but seemingly distracted. Perhaps she had too many tables to care for, but it didn’t seem like that was it. Something else was bothering her. You could pick it up in the slight slump of her shoulders. Just a hint of defeat, something going on in her world. Something that laid heavy upon her. She was…maybe 20’s or 30’s…since I am not a good judge of age, I just have to guess at that. Her service was good, except for the iced tea she forgot, and she got my order wrong, but it was OK…(she gave me the senior citizen sized order instead of the regular). Probably a blessing in disguise. I didn’t complain, it just didn’t matter, this would not be my last meal, and I was in no danger of starving to death.

Even knowing that money can’t fix everything, Ileft a substantial tip….hoping that perhaps, somehow she would know that someone cared. That was the last I saw her, except in thoughts. My memory keeps bringing her to mind. I can’t fix her, but I can help her. I may never see her again and it doesn’t matter. The crossing of paths was enough. It was enough for me to take time to pray for her. Here is my prayer for her.

Lord, I do pray for Rachel. You know what she needs. You know what is affecting her heart. You know what is happening in her life outside of work, and you know if something is occurring inside of work. Today, Lord Jesus I ask you to bring her comfort, to reveal clarity to her situation, to give her peace in the midst of chaos. I ask for healing for her hurts, for her wounds, and for her heart and soul. I pray that whatever occurs she will find joy in life and a relationship with the only one who cares for her more than she cares for herself. I pray Lord that she will find hope in each new sunrise. I pray she will find happiness in the laugh of a child, the song of a bird, or a drifting tumbleweed crossing the road in front of her. I pray she will find someone to hold her tight, and that she will make right choices. I pray she will find joy in being a blessing to others. I pray that she will be blessed financially, and that you will speak to her in a way that she recognizes as beyond “worldly”. I pray for healing for her body, her soul and her spirit. I pray that she will become a new creation, and when she does, I pray she will find a life full of plans for her future, a path designed especially for her, and that her life will be blessed with more than she could ever hope or dream.

Yes, Rachel made a difference in my life. A passing stranger, a unique appointment planned ahead of time to touch her life that would change her future….and mine.

Uncomfortable…revealing…wordless

Posted: April 11, 2015 in Hope
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No assignment to handle today. I am enjoying this blogging challenge. Each day, except weekends an assignment comes. The purpose? Well….I believe the purpose is to get bloggers to interact with each other, and to help us develop our skills. The assignments require thought, and no thought…just do it! I always liked that ad that Nike put out years ago. I have been trying to “just do it!”

Since this is not an assignment, I get to say what I want, with no feedback, and that is OK. What I really want to discuss is what to do and say when someone says something or writes something that makes you uncomfortable.

A couple of the articles I have written have been gut-wrenching. I find myself pouring out my soul on this blog, and revealing things long hidden. Some of the people who read my blog know nothing of my history. They weren’t around when, what they are reading, happened. Because the words and emotions are so raw, they just don’t know what to say. What are you supposed to do when someone shares something so personal. Do you remark on the quality of the writing? Do you say, oh wow, I am sorry you had to go through that? Is it better to just say nothing?

The first thing you must recognize is that the person revealing their stories, would not have revealed those things unless it was time for the world to know. The hurt and the pain have been dealt with, and life has gone on. There is a reason why these things are being shared, at least it is in my case, and that reason is so others know that no matter what happens in their life, they too can have the hope of an end to the pain, and the hope of moving forward.

If I could make it through the traumas in my life, then you can get through the traumas in your life, whatever they might be.

Each person has a different and difficult walk through life. There are incredibly sad and devastating stories in our world that have happened to people. It is part of life. The Bible tells us that in this world there will be trouble. Boy is that an understatement if there ever was one. I look around and I see the horror, the disgrace, the sorrow, the pain, the loss, the emptiness.

I also see the hope! My hope came from Jesus. He is the rescuer. He is the one who will always be there if you call on him. He is the one who can turn your life around. To those who call out to him, the future is better than the past, and there is a reason. This is truly the potter’s wheel that we all sit upon. The master potter can make us into anything, but sometimes we have to go through the fire in order to become who we are supposed to be. It is not pleasant, but in the end it is better. If it is not better yet, then it is not yet the end.

If you are struggling with life….know that you can do this. You can get through this. You can come out better than you were.

There are so very many people who have lost loved ones. Some unexpectedly. It seems so totally unfair. It wasn’t supposed to be this way. It was too soon. Someone else caused this. It should not have been.

Why do those things happen? Why is it my lot to lose so much? Such a great love? Why? We all ask the same questions. We all go through the same stuff, only different. Our part in this is to “check” ourselves. The question we need to ask is, “am I building walls that keep people out?” “Am I becoming bitter?” “Am I holding grudges, or hatred or shame?” Whatever comes…we must try and get better.

Nothing in the past can be changed. It is what it is. It happened. We can only go from here. Will today be better than yesterday? YES…It will if we choose. But we must choose to let the past be the past and accept today as a new day. Each day God has given us a new sunrise. It is a new day…Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow may never come.

The importance of today cannot be over-stated. You have today…I have today! Look for the good things that bring you peace, that make your heart warm inside. It may be as small as petting a dog, or watching a sunrise, or laughing at a joke. Happiness is only found in today, in the NOW. You can’t plan it, You can’t hide it away, and you can’t save it for tomorrow. Happiness only occurs in the “NOW!” Contentment may be held. Peace can be held. Joy can be held….but happiness cannot. Happiness is fleeting. You have it only for a brief moment here and there. Enjoy it….but whatever you do recognize it and remember it. Secure that moment of happiness by writing it down or sharing it with someone. You can hold the memory of the happiness, but you cannot hold happiness.

Today…RIGHT NOW…say the things you want to say(preferably words you will not regret)…Laugh at what you want to laugh at. Ask questions about what you want to know. Don’t worry about commenting on something you have learned about another. If they don’t want to discuss it, they will tell you. What you may learn is that they do want to talk about it, that they do want to tell you their story of hope. They may want to explain why they did what they did, OR what led them to where they are. Just be real.

People will never remember what you say, but they will never forget how you made them feel. Work at making those memories for yourself and for those around you. It is actually called “LOVE!”

You have today…Live it with love, hope, anticipation, appreciation, happiness….Just breathe…go for it….LIVE Life!

Blessings to you all,
Prayyior

Weeping endures for the night….but….

Posted: April 10, 2015 in Hope
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A deep sadness was in my heart. They would be better off without me…even my 5 year old. They would be OK. The tub was ready..the razor blade in my hand. Bathroom door locked.. Oh God…I cried out…If you will show me just one reason to stay….nothing..I waited…nothing..OK it’s time. Stepping into the tub, I heard his voice…quiet…reassuring..”go to bed, it will be better in the morning.”

I awoke to the sun shining in my window. On my bed table was a little piece of paper. It said…”mourning endures for a night, but JOY comes in the morning!

The message was for me.

Noise in the night

Posted: April 9, 2015 in This and That
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I awoke to noise. Many people. Crying. My Mother… Other voices… shushing… don’t wake the kids….but I was awake, and I was NOT waiting for someone to decide to wake me up.

What had happened? Why are all these people here? Why is my Mother crying? What is going on….Where is my Dad? The living room is full of people. I haven’t seen this many people in our house since we had a big summer picnic in which everyone in the surrounding countryside was invited. Then the yard was spilling over with people, and the house had a few, but mostly they were women and they were gathering food and taking it to the front yard where tables were set up and the NEW Brick Fireplace, my Dad had built were ready to receive and deliver those luscious steaks.

Tonight, there were no Steaks…and there were no smiles. Somber people, speaking in hushed tones…earth-shattering sobs coming from my Mother.

Something has happened to someone, since my Dad is not here, it must be him….I find a face I recognize, “What’s wrong?”, I ask…”What has happened? Where is my Dad?” That face spoke…. Your Dad is on the way to the hospital in Minot. Minot? Why not Kenmare, that hospital is closer? We always used the hospital in Kenmare. It was only 20 Miles from home. “Was there a car accident?”…I quizzed him. He was not volunteering any information. “WHAT HAPPENED?” I demanded an answer, after all I was not a baby…I was 15 years old and not stupid.

“Your Dad was shot tonight.” he barely whispered, with a pained expression on his face. Where was he shot? I demanded answers….In Donnybrook, on main street. WHAT? What happened? Again and again…words kept coming and answers were not forecoming….and then I was put in a car along with my Sister who was still asleep and taken to the neighbors for the night. My Mother was being taken to Minot to the hospital where my Father had been taken.

No more answers….None…I asked the neighbor who we were to be staying with, but she said she didn’t know. She gave us a bed to sleep in, but there was no sleep. My sister slept alongside me. Peacefully…thank God at least she was sleeping. For me…no sleep this night. I sat with my back against the wall….no headboard on this bed. I sought the truth from the only one who knew…

Music that makes my heart dance!

Posted: April 8, 2015 in This and That
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Just so you know…I am taking a blogging class. The goal is to write something every day for a month. This is day 3 and the assignment is to share with you my 3 favorite songs and what they mean to me. Here it is:

Music makes the world go ’round! Isn’t that what “they” always say? From the time I was a wee little one, the joy of cheerful happy music has bathed my soul in joy! It has lifted my spirits, and spoken my thoughts out loud in a way I never could.

We have just celebrated Resurrection Sunday(AKA Easter). From the time I came to know how much Jesus loved me and that he died for me the words and rhythm of this song echo in my head. It seems I have almost always been in church, when I have heard this and sung along. Even more than singing this song in church, I love to hear my Son sing this a capella. It warms my heart, reminds me of God’s love and care for me. This is the first verse, and the only one I know by heart.
[On a hill far away, stood an old rugged cross, the emblem of suffering and shame; And I love that old cross, where the dearest and best, for a world of lost sinners was slain. So I’ll Cherish the old rugged cross, Till my trophies at last I lay down. I will cling to the old rugged cross, and exchange it someday for a crown.]

It’s hard to choose 3 favorites since I have never really thought about it…but I love the upbeat sound of Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree. It always makes me feel cheerful, optimistic and feel like dancing. If you want to listen to this click, this link: http://www.make4fun.com/audios/Christmas-audio-clip/26029-Rockin-Around-The-Christmas-Tree

My final favorite is Hallelujah, but sung with different words…The word Hallelujah, just totally belongs to God and in my humble opinion, the words should go along with it! The music lifts your soul into the heavens and God’s Glory just permeates the atmosphere… Enjoy!

Hallelujah Easter version

Yes, there are many more songs that make me laugh, make me smile, make me cry, lift my heart, open my eyes, and bring joy to my life…but these for today, are my favorites!

Transport to a dream world! YEA…lets go!

Posted: April 7, 2015 in This and That
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Day 2….If I could transport myself anywhere….where would that be?

Logically….I am stressed. The day has been too full of too much. My email is running over, and people need answers to questions. Luckily I just got one cancellation which was going to eat up about 10 hours, so I am way ahead of the game. I sit in this little office, the desk is covered with papers in disarray. For some reason I can’t seem to stack papers neatly, My Jergens lotion sits on the left side of my computer, because it needs to be handy for my super dry skin….On the right sits a combination of coconut oil, and essential oils for my skin that needs extra special care. There are cords….Oh My Gosh…there are cords. One for the power to the computer, one from the printer, that doesn’t seem to work “wireless” to the computer, there is the one that charges my Ipad and the one that charges my phone. There are two ink cartridges for my printer….One is empty and one is full, except the full one is for some long lost printer so when I inserted it into this printer, I got that crazy notification telling me it was the wrong one. On my right is a bottle of essential oils, on the desk behind are 50 other bottles of various kinds of essential oils, a bag of empty roller bottles, some teeny weeny bottles, and a box full of bottles, some open some never opened….a book telling me what to do with them all, and a flyer with various oil recipes to help make life better for lots of people.

Oh my….I look again at my desk…it has a plastic container with pumpkin seeds(my favorite snack), a camera, a Television which is on Fox News, or the Cooking channel. The right side of my desk has a bottle of Hawaiian Ginger splash spay, a blue lid to the plastic container that holds the pumpkin seeds, a registration card for a vehicle, a bottle of water with apple cider vinegar in it, and a cup of coffee which is still semi-warm, and will be cold before I finish it.

My life seems to be surrounded by clutter. I suspect I have “hoarder” tendencies. My brain is filled with clutter, I can’t go on…to tell you the rest of the stuff on my desk will push me over the edge.

OK…I am going to breathe…Where would I like to transport to? How about a clean office with everything organized, a place for everything. My work would be caught up, I would be done with my taxes, All my drawers would be tidy, my books in the bookcases would be organized by purpose…God books, Oil books, Real Estate books, medical books, photo books(yes, I still have those too, even though a good plenty of them are hidden neatly in the cloud.) books on how to run my technology(all unread), and there would be the smell of warm sweet caramel rolls(which would contain NO calories)…There would be an easel set up with brushes neatly organized and paint ready to put on that blank canvas(one of my favorite fun things to do) Yes…Transporting would be fun…I think I will click my heels, and wiggle my nose…and blink three times….and I am there…and then….well perhaps a nap!

Moving Forward…just makes sense!

Posted: April 6, 2015 in Prayers
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It’s a new day! profound thought, isn’t it? Today my goal is to remember things. I think the art of remembering is tying things together. Attach a thought that you want to remember to something solid. We are reminded that it IS a new day because the Sun comes up! We are reminded about many things by other things.

When I was just a teen (yes, it is hard to remember that, it WAS a long time ago), but it was a time when Charcoal grills had just hit the scene and we had one. It was great except it took forever to get the charcoal started, once you accomplished that…the food was good! Except for chicken. Chicken was always a problem. Whenever I see burnt chicken I am reminded of how much my Mother HATED burned food, especially chicken, but my sister and I always wanted to grill chicken. Because our Mother would complain about the burnt chicken, by Sister would tell her…but that is how we like it! LOL For some reason, we never could get it done before it burned. I now know that grilling chicken is an art. Either you grill it until it is nicely browned and put it in the oven to finish it off, or you drop it in some water and pre-boil it before you put it on the grill or you bake it first and finish it off on the gas grill. Charcoal has lost it’s charm in my life. Moving on is part of life, and moving on means enjoying the immediate gratification of instant heat. Gas grills “rock!”

I wonder how it is that we forget so easily? It seems that we make the same mistakes again and again. One of the things I don’t like about those mistakes is the fact that you don’t realize it is the same mistake until you have “done it again!” Perhaps if we tie that mistake to a locking object we will stop making that mistake and never have a “do over!”

I remember having to memorize things in school. I practiced the art of Planting those things in my brain. I would say…I have to remember this. And then I would go over it until I got it right…It is kind of like the “save” button on your computer. Get it right…or mostly right and then hit “save.” You can always change it, but for the moment you have the words locked up, and with any luck you won’t accidently delete them. Remembering is exactly the same. You have to make a point of storing those items in your head, otherwise they will be like thoughts…here today and gone in two seconds.

There are certain words we want to remember for specific occasions. When someone is complaining about their life, it is hard to say the right words. Sometimes you just want to tell them that they are their own worst enemy. Quit saying all the negative stuff, and move on. Stuff happens, not planned, you didn’t cause it, you can’t fix it, and in a hundred years it is not going to matter. This works, if you are a good friend but a casual acquaintance needs a little more finesse. Perhaps it would be best to say…”I am so sorry that happened to you.” or “I can appreciate that!” Yep, sometimes it is best not to say… “too bad, so sad.” This is a person you don’t want to offend, and would like to get to know better, or perhaps develop a relationship with. Words are important and taking someone’s hurt and dis-respecting it does not bode well for the relationship.

As the years pass we learn some of these things. It is good to remember them, store them in our brain for the next time this scenario plays out.

I think the hardest situations to deal with are those who are always complaining. It makes you not want to be around them. Sometimes you can see the problem a mile off, and would surely like to tell them what to do, but maybe that is not your concern.

Bitterness in people is tough…it usually stems from something that has hurt them deeply that they cannot get past. A betrayal is a biggie. You have to have experienced that in your own life, without a doubt, most people have! It hurts….it is not something that can just be glossed over. You literally have to acknowledge it, recognize how it hurts you, and how sad it made you feel and then you must forgive it. You don’t have to forget it, because it would be totally stupid to allow yourself to be betrayed a second or third time by the same person, but you have to forgive, otherwise it becomes a big stumbling block in your own life. Unforgiveness only affects you. The person who hurt you will not be affected by your lack of forgiveness, and will probably never ask you to forgive them…so you have to take it upon yourself to NOT hurt yourself over and over again by the actions of someone else. Let it go. Release it… lay it down, refuse to let it eat away at your heart. Closure is not when judgment comes to another. It only happens when we forgive. The Bible is pretty clear about forgiveness. It says that if you don’t forgive others, then YOU will not be forgiven. Yikes! So forgive and move on…Let it go.

If you can’t remember this, then it will be an issue for a very long time… Memorize this, and remind yourself of it whenever this bridge needs to be crossed again. Here is a quote for you, plant it in your brain for future reference! Ready? Here it is:

“Hating someone, holding a grudge or failing to forgive, is like burning down YOUR OWN HOUSE, to get rid of a rat!”

That’s it for today! Blessings to you all…Thanks for reading my musings.

Prayyior

Resurrection Sunday is soon! Get ready!

Posted: April 3, 2015 in Prayers
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As I ponder the Glory of Resurrection Sunday, I can’t help but think of the many people who are under assault. Whether it be Christians being murdered in the name of satan or victims of the evil in the form of cancer, or other illnesses which came upon all of mankind since the loss of fellowship with God in the Garden. I think on those little ones who we pray for, for Justin, for Charlotte, and for the many many others we have prayed for over the years. My heart breaks when I think of the sorrow of the parents who either struggle with illness in their children and for those who have died and gone onto their eternal life. My soul mourns over the sin I piled on Jesus at the Cross, and then compound that by all the sins of mankind. I can’t imagine a love so great that HE would not only die for us, but be cast away by God for a time, when all along no one had been so close to their Father. I can’t imagine the sorrow of the Father for his Beloved Son. I do not know if I could ever have given up my children for such a cause, even knowing that it was not the end, but just the beginning.

I am reminded of the Word which says, that by his stripes we are healed. I believe it…I know it…but my eyes do not see it except on rare occasions. I want to reach out with the Frankincense that was given to Jesus at his birth and touch those who are ill, dying, hanging on by a thread and say…Be healed in the Mighty Name of Jesus…so Tonight I say that! Be healed in the Name of JESUS!
I long to change the sorrows of our world, but I am not called to do the work I request…I am called to claim the Word of God, and Pray the prayers, and seek God in what I am to do, what exactly I am to pray, when to pray (without ceasing of course).

I have a deep sadness tonight…beyond deep. Perhaps it is that over 2000 years ago now, our Jesus was hanging on a cross with his life seeping away, his weight so heavy and his heart so broken and yet his determination to stay on that cross and let the plan be fulfilled.

I pray that as we move through the day of darkness, that we will see the glimpses of light begin to break through. I think of the time Jesus spent in hell and I am thankful that he brought many out of that horrible pit of despair. I think we know nothing of the despair. We cannot know…but we can know the Light of Christ. We need only come to Jesus, ask him to forgive our sin, and invite Him to enter our hearts, and then follow him.

Jesus is so unique. He is God, He is hope, He is love, He is mercy, He is grace, He is the only one who can bring us peace. Today is a good day to receive the gift of life with Christ. It is available, but we must ask. It is like getting a beautiful gift, but if we don’t open it, it is like it is not ours, and it isn’t until we receive it. I urge you to not let another day go by without choosing Jesus. It may be the last time you get the opportunity. I do not know where I would be without Jesus.

Tonight, I want to pray especially for those who are sick, and especially tonight I want to pray for Baby Charlotte…..I know that the God who has said that by his stripes we are healed, and who died to forgive our sin, and who rose from the dead, and was seen by many witnesses, is the God who perhaps this day, will touch the body of little Charlotte and make her whole. Perhaps tonight God will touch Justin and make him whole, and his body will be re-manufactured to the Glory of God. Perhaps tonight those people who are battling Cancer will be set free from satan’s grasp. Perhaps tonight millions will fall on their knees and give their lives to Christ. Perhaps….Perhaps the world will awaken to Christ Alive, Perhaps tonight the Nation of Israel will recognize Yeshua, will be able to see the truth. Perhaps on Resurrection Sunday, it will be a NEW WORLD on earth where the Glory of the Lord is proclaimed in every Nation. Perhaps…I pray it is so. Please join me!

Thank You Jesus for dying for me…Thank you for forgiving my sin, Thank you Jesus for Loving me….Thank You Jesus! Thank You Jesus, for touching hearts throughout the world and bringing millions to your Kingdom! My words come to an end…but You Lord Jesus, know my heart, and it is in YOUR NAME….the name of Jesus, or Yeshua, I pray….Amen and AMEN!

You Choose……Act Now…or regret it and wish you had!

Posted: March 23, 2015 in Prayers
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Could something written over 3000 years ago possibly be the reason America seems to be in such serious trouble? If so, then what in the world do we do about it? I really appreciate when someone takes a specific message and breaks it apart, and then compares it to the happenstances of this nation.
Of course I am talking about the Bible. I am a believer in Jesus. It is Jesus who entered my life as a little child and has always been there directing and guiding my life. It is Jesus, who has revealed truth to me, and it is Jesus who has bailed me out of so many situations I have found myself in…most because of the choices I have made, but many because, I either didn’t follow his instructions, didn’t recognize his voice, distrusted him, and thought I could do it better myself, or was in the wrong place at what seemed to be the wrong time.
I find it amazing that God even bothers to work in the life of people. Who would care that much? He is the God who can create a person from scratch at any given moment should he choose. He is the god that works everything to our good. How in the world does he keep track of everyone of us that loves him and wants to talk to him all at the same time. Can you even imagine the cacophony? Why would he care about our lives…they are so short in comparison to eternity. He places each of us in places, just like he put Esther in the Kings court at “such a time as this.” So why am I here? Why are you here? How do our worlds intermingle. I am always amazed as where my readers come from….I look and someone in Taiwan read my blog, or Brazil or chili or Sweden. It absolutely amazes me. Who could possibly care Read the rest of this entry »

Right Side Up and Upside Down Birthday

Posted: February 16, 2015 in Prayers
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In Honor of my Right side up and upside down Birthday! Today…February 16th

Since this is the year I get to celebrate this particular Birthday…Yep, when you write the numbers it is the same whether it is upside down or right side up…but not backward.

Today I want to look backward first. I want to share some of the things I have learned in the years past because they are the things that changed my life and made me who I am today.

First remember…When God has a plan for your life, YOU will live until you complete it! The day I was born, my parents called in a pastor to baptize me, because they did not expect me to live. I remember none of this, but only know a portion of the story.

I am pleased that cameras have existed in my lifetime. I remember going out into the frigid cold one year on my birthday when the snow was so deep you could not walk through it. My Dad somehow managed to take a picture in the middle of a snowbank.

I am trying to remember the birthdays and only a few stand out. The snowbank is the first I remember. The second I remember was when I was 16. It was the year that my Dad lay in a coma from being shot in the head in the cold of winter. It was a very hard year. I was living with my old 8th Grade Teacher and her family. That day, was special because my Mom called me from the hospital to tell me to listen to the radio because she had dedicated a song to me to be played that evening. I don’t remember the name of the song…and it is not important, but what it did mean, was that My Mom made me feel loved, even though I was really all alone. And I REALLY wasn’t all alone, because God was with me, and I KNEW that my Dad would be OK. It had been only a few days before that Birthday, I had kneeled at the end of my bed and prayed. I had told God, how much I loved my Dad, and I asked for a miracle. I was so specific in the prayer. Dad had suffered a gunshot wound to the forehead. Whether it was accidental because he kept the gun loaded all the time and the safety was bad, and it went off when he went to climb in the car, or if as some said….He had attempted to take his life. (I never believed that, I was his beloved daughter, and I knew how much he loved me and the rest of our family)

Whatever the case…I prayed…God I said, You are the only one who can fix my Dad. I ask you to spare his life, I prayed that he would be able to see, I prayed that he would be able to hear, and that his memory would be good so that he could recall our history, I prayed that he could think and plan. I prayed that he could walk, although that wasn’t as important. I prayed that my Dad could continue to be my Dad…The Dad I always knew. When I stood up, I KNEW that I knew, that I KNEW…my Dad would survive and he would be fine. Many Days later, he opened his eyes…yes, he could see, but had triple vision, Yes, he could hear, Yes, he remembered who we were, Yes, he could remember our history, but didn’t remember what had happened to him. Many days after that he would learn to walk again, but would need a 5 pronged cane for the rest of his life. He knew how to play checkers, and pinochile(his favorite game), he could tell a joke and laughed when you told one. This divine touch of God was the 4th time in my life that God had declared himself GOD! And JESUS had revealed himself in a very unique way..

So where this story goes, and what I have learned from it…and I want desperately to have you believe and understand and count on, is that NO MATTER WHAT happens in your life, Jesus will be there for you and will provide what you need! He should never be the last resort when you are in trouble…Go to him FIRST. In the end… JESUS is the one you can count on…nobody else can do what he can and will do for you! He is the one who loves you more than life itself. He is the one who wants to be your friend, who wants to share your life, and take you where you never dreamed!

Next I want to tell you something so important. Very few people in this world care much about your life, and what you think or what you have done. The awards and the degrees and the milestones in your life are almost totally unimportant to those you spend time with, or who come into your life. It is just how it is, and you shouldn’t feel bad about it. Those people, however, will never forget how you made them feel. My Mother used to say….”If you can’t say something nice, then don’t say anything at all!” It’s funny because though God says it so many other ways, it means the same. So when you are speaking to someone, be kind, say nice things that are true, look for the good….but never ever “flatter” someone, because it comes across as “hurt”!

Being kind, and caring could also be called LOVE. Love those around you, those you come in contact with, and be strong and courageous as you love the unlovable ones, because they too will be brought into your life. This is not to say, that you must allow those who seek to do you harm to hurt you. You must not. Do not let those people into your circle, do not let those people take vengeance upon you. You have a God-Given right to defend yourself.
That God-given right of defense, is how God built you. Watch for the signs of danger. Is the hair standing up on the back of your neck? Is your head telling you to get far away? Is your heart beating wildly? Are you concerned about this person? If so, you must get away, and if you cannot, than you must defend yourself or someone else if that person is trying to harm them. How do I know that self-defense and protection of family and others is a right from God. I know this because God created all things and all animals. We can look to nature to find our rights. A mother animal will protect her child against all attacks, even if it means her life. The King of Jungle, a lion, will run off all the other males, to keep his Pride safe. That Pride is where the women and children or baby lions live. He will die, defending them.

So, what that means is IF you are wondering what is right or wrong, look to God’s creations to see how they act. If their natural instinct is to do it, then you too are allowed by God to do it. You should never be in doubt as to what is right when you can look to the animal kingdom to see how they were designed and what their natural instincts do.
One other thing to remember is that….there are going to be people who do not, will not, and no matter what are never going to like you! It doesn’t matter. What matters is that you do what is best for you and your family. Don’t be offended because some person doesn’t like you. There is a reason and they don’t belong in your inner circle anyway. Even Jesus, who never did anything wrong, and loved everyone, was hated so badly that he was crucified. Just remember that when someone doesn’t like you, you and Jesus have a lot in common.

It is important that you don’t take what doesn’t belong to you. It isn’t yours, and was not intended to be yours. If it was, than you would already have it.

It is important to be grateful for what you have. It is never ok to “want” what someone else has. You are not going to be any better, or more respected by those who count in your life, if you have this or that. If that is what it takes for someone to respect you, then find a new someone to be your friend.
It is important when you are living your life to be open to possibilities. If you are “feeling” like you need to do something and it isn’t illegal or detrimental, then pursue it. At least do the “Ben Franklin” plan for determining if it is right for you or not… Old Ben taught us to make a list of pros and cons. If the cons were longer…then don’t do it, but if the pros side was longer, go after it. The Bible teaches us to “count the cost” of the things we do. Will it hurt someone? Will I be able to finish it? Will it make a difference in a hundred years? I find that the things in life I regret most are the things I failed to do, not so much the things I did! In the end, we are only responsible to God for what we did and didn’t do. Choose wisely, and don’t waste your time on “rabbit trails!”
Don’t let revenge destroy your life. Forgiveness is important. Someone, sometime will do you what you perceive to be a great wrong. Take that to Jesus, give it to him, and let him deal with it and with that person. He will then take it, and you can let it go. Harboring unforgiveness will get you an ulcer and a hardened heart. LET IT GO! Turn it over to Jesus…His judgments are right… Some people call it Karma…but what it boils down to is, watching what God does in the lives of others. You can’t do that if all you want for them is destruction. I remember reading in a Sunday Paper when I was about 17 years old…I knew I had to remember it for the rest of my life so I put it to memory. “Hating someone is like BURNING down YOUR OWN HOUSE to get rid of a rat!”

When I was a teenager, I was abducted but some guys, one I had briefly met before, but knew a friend of mine. That was a humiliating and devastating experience. I am not sure how long I was gone, the very first part I remember….I remember going to a friend’s house who that one person also knew, but she could not come along. That is good! So glad she was safe! After that, I am blank until I remember waking up on the floor in the backseat with 3 guys feet on top of me, and listening while they decided what they should do with me. They considered killing me and dumping my body… I suggested they just drop me off near my home and I would go home. They finally decided that would be the best, but I was warned that if I ever told anyone what they had done, they would come back and kill my entire family and burn my house to the ground with everyone in it. I kept my mouth shut. My Mother was furious when I got home and told me how disrespectful and irresponsible I was.

For years and years after this I lived ashamed…I had done nothing wrong, but the shame was there. One day I heard that I could go to Jesus and ask him to help me through this. I did…and asked what he wanted to say to me about that…. I listened…and I heard his voice. He said just 3 words. “I LOVE INNOCENCE!” Those were healing words…and for the first time in my life I shared the story. At last, I was FREE!

Well, I think there are many other things, I could say on my right side up or upside down Birthday…but you can take these and know that the most important thing I have learned in my life is that God is the answer. He…..God the Almighty, Jesus who is God come to Earth as a man, and HOLY SPIRIT, sent when Jesus returned to heaven…will always be there for you. In the good times and bad, during floods, devastation, hunger, persecution, loneliness, sorrow and great loss. He will be the one who brings comfort and love in the midst of trials and difficulties. You just have to do one thing…Call upon JESUS!

Blessings to each of you…and thank you for reading my posts! Prayyior

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