Green Smoothies

Finally I have an awesome blender! Birthday and Christmas money paid for it :)
I've been wanting to try the Green Smoothie craze...see if it would be worthwhile, but my stick master just didn't cut it...so I did my research for a blender and waited for a sale! Which came!!!

So for the last few days I've been experimenting, and it has been good.
Basically a green smoothie is based on a cup of leafy greens blended with liquid (water, almond milk, juice etc) and fruit. The ratio is (initially) 1:3 leafy greens and fruit. As you get into it, you should try to have more greens and less fruit...

I've used low fat milk, almond milk which was nice and not milky-tasting....and water. Surprisingly the water base tasted the best! I've also tried 1tb chia seeds both in gel form, and straight from the packet.

Fruits have been variations of banana, peach, apple, kiwi fruit, blueberries.
Instead of having one smoothie at once, I've been snacking on it... keeping it in the fridge and having about a cupful at a time. I tried my very first one for breakfast, but it didn't fill me for as long as I thought it would. It WAS my first one ;) It's a good way to stop snacking on the bad foods.

The best part is my blender has a self clean function - it's so easy!
Sunbeam Cafe series. You add a little soapy water and press the Self Clean button.... then just rinse it out and dry. Awesome!!!

Let's see how long this phase lasts....and how much healthier I feel ;)
The green may look strange, but if you tasted the smoothie with a blindfold, you would have no idea!:)

Life

Sometimes in life you walk through a door but leave it open....only to later discover somebody else shut the door while you had your back turned... 

Politics...

If you are in Australia, no doubt you know who our leaders are....and their childish behaviour...here is my simple view...

When these 'key leaders' stop using their mouths, I may actually listen to what they have to say...

That is all :)

Squirming...

Do you ever feel like a child whose parent wants to hold you, but you just want to squirm out of their comforting arms....because you don't want to feel vulnerable and broken... the love is there, but you don't want to give in... 

Standing in the Watch Tower

There are those of us called to duty in the Watch Tower - their calling is to stand alert in the towers overlooking the city... to protect and intercede for what they see below.

Sometimes this can be a place of heartbreak. It can be a place of joy.
It is hard when they see the lives being lived out below that could be so much better....or those who are falling into a pit, or those who have turned from the good path and are following the path to destruction...

The frustrating part is that those in the watch tower cannot really do anything. They often wish they could walk down to the person on the wrong path and warn them of what continuing on that path could do... but instead, they remember their calling. Their special calling from God.

The watch tower is a place where big things happen. God is there. Instead of allowing those in the towers to walk to the people below, he gives them the skills to intercede for them. They watch silently and pray hard. Most people will never see what happens in these towers, but My Oh My! They see the results - even if they don't know it!

Being in the watch tower can be lonely, but there are many towers in many locations, all skilfully positioned by the creator himself :) Those placed in these towers consider it a privilege. Their calling may come at a cost, but it far outweighs the results :)

Behind a smile...

I just wanted to write about my experience after work today.
I went to my usual petrol station, after visiting my parents, and as I was paying, the girl behind the counter said, "You have a very beautiful smile". I was taken back, and could only reply, "Thanks", but it got me thinking about my life - the story behind my smile.

There are many reasons for me to be bitter....but I am not bitter. Things in my story have not made me bitter, but better.

My smile is not always deliberate, but it is real. I have my Jesus... he has been with me every second of my life - he has been through the rubbish and through the joy. He has brought healing to my wounds. He has truly brought beauty from the ashes.

So, as I finish this post, I begin to wonder about other people's smiles... it is not necessarily those with no trials who smile the brightest. Often it's those who have been through the trials of life, and come out through the other side - out into the sunshine.

I have been through some dark places, but they never robbed me of my smile.
I guess my smile is a testimony of God's grace and love in my life :)

The silver lining of Blooming Where You Are Planted

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=269881403131008&set=a.142822539170229.27785.142821199170363&type=1&ref=nf

The text says:

"God has put you where you are for a reason.
You are there to inspire, to bless and create 
a positive influence.
You are there to be
His hand, feet and mouth
Because He can use you to carry out His work.
Continue to be a blessing". 

Don't waste your petals

This rose... is the rose from the movie, Beauty & The Beast. 

The beast was given this rose after being enchanted from a Prince into an Hideous Beast. This was punishment for his his dark, hard heart. The only way of breaking the spell was to love, and be loved in return. His time limit was his 21st birthday, when the last petal would fall. If he did not break the spell by then, he would remain a beast forever. At the time, breaking the spell seemed hopeless.

Recently, God reminded me of this rose. He said, every person in this world is like that rose. Each of us is given the gift of life.

Like the rose, we all have a time limit. Like the rose, if we don't make the most of what we have before the last petal falls.... we have no second chance.

I felt God say that, like, in the story, each of us is given a chance.... each of us has a Belle in our lives - Jesus is our Belle. Our saviour. The one who can help us understand love and the reason for living.

We are not under some spell, but we do need to find Jesus before our last petal falls.
Like Belle, Jesus is the only one who can 'break the spell' leading to eternal despair... 

Blooming where you are planted

Recently I was reminded of a past struggle I had, and was greatly encouraged by it...

I was asked by a higher authority, why, with my higher qualifications, I was in the job I am currently in.

Great question! No, I didn't go to uni to do the job I am in...but that is the path GOD has led me on.

Yes, I have tried to gain higher positions in better paid, and more glorified jobs. Fact is, it took me a long time to learn that God had different ideas for me... it was not about ME. 

I finally accepted the word that I was to "Bloom where you are planted". I have learned a great deal in the last decade+ of employment...met many interesting characters...some I would gladly never meet again, others  have been awesome. Through this, I have learned many people skills....dealing with difficult people, how to work with all sorts of people.... and how to really love the 'unloved'. I have gained much confidence in myself and my work. I have made some great friends (and even some enemies....lol!).

It took me years.....maybe the better part of the last decade, to understand why I was doing what I was doing.

For now, I am happy. There are many opportunities still to come for this life... but I know I am where God wants me to be for this time.

I am who I am and I will not change my personality for anybody - I will make changes if I feel the need, but nobody will put me in a box to which I do not belong.

I am finally blooming where I have been planted. 

The label of my life....Esther 4:14. I was "born for such a time as this".

Day-to-day Spiritual Warfare

Sometimes I would love to share what has happened in my day, but I know some people just wouldn't understand, so I just post at surface level.

For today, 'surface level' means that I've been dealing with spirits in other people, and instead of being annoyed by them, I've told them who is boss! It has been a very interesting and rewarding experience. God is showing me more and more about what I can do in Him. This has been happening over a month or so, and I just find the Holy Spirit prompting me to do or say certain things. I have also received confirmation from unsuspecting others, who have noticed a difference in the people I deal with.

So, that's today's news. Hopefully it will encourage somebody :)

Ghost post

I am very curious.... going through a label in my own blog, I see a 'ghost' post from 2007. Obviously there was something, but it has disappeared, leaving only the date and time I posted...

What did I write! I am actually quite encouraged, in a strange way... I just would really like to remember what I wrote... I guess it's not such a place of 'free speech' afterall! haha!

If this is warfare, I am encouraged! 

Burden Bearing

Sometimes having the gift of "burden bearing" can be a lot to bear...

It is a privilege with a cost.... and something many people will never understand... but that's part of the cost ;)
I can't say I don't want it - I just sometimes need to remember to draw the lines and not take things so personally.

Well, that's last month's news... but it's still on my mind. I am learning a lot as I realise my gifts have been stretched and grown... no 'new' gifts. Just new revelations and understandings. Overall, it has been good :)

I just stumbled across this article.... found it an interesting read :) I don't usually pick up on a whole room...but the concepts are the same.
http://www.clarion-journal.com/clarion_journal_of_spirit/2008/07/when-i-walk-int.html

Life...the journey

Life is a funny thing... a journey.... my journey has recently been a bit of an adventure....not necessarily good... not necessarily bad. It has been a learning season... sometimes it has been extremely frustrating, sometimes elating and empowering. I have learned a lot about myself in the last month or so... I have experienced many spiritual attacks...but satan is a wimp and totally stupid....so AS IF he could get the upper hand! LOSER! hahahahaha!!!!! Not that he hasn't tried...but he has only caused me to be more determined.

I am a warrior. I often find myself in 'no man's land' spiritually - God has been using me, and growing me in this area. I know I am a big threat to the enemy, because, like him, I am on a mission! I have been called to fulfil a purpose, and I WILL do it!

I am very sleepy right now, so I'll leave it here...

I'm praying for you

I have a friend.... I know they are hurting... They don't have to tell me anything. God told me even before I saw this person... I don't know the details. I just know they are not in a happy place.... and I feel sad because I feel useless... but when I feel ALL I can do is pray....God reminded me he gave me the gift of prayer & intercession....so by simply praying, I am using my God-given gift... It still feels so small, but I know it's what HE wants me to do.

So friend, I don't know what's going on in your world - just know I am continually praying for you, waiting to see that beautiful smile back on your face :) 

Things are better :)

Well, this week has been much better :) I've been fighting and I've been winning :)
Still much to learn and do, but I know that no matter what, I'll be ok :) If there was no threat, there would be no attack....I would rather be a threat than be left alone leaving no mark in this world.

Thanks to my friends who have been praying, caring and just saying what I need to hear :) 

I have put on my armour and I will STAND!

I have my armour on! I will not take it off! I am on the winning side! Whatever comes my way to taunt me will only fire me up and make me stronger! 

Last week was just one week. One bad week...that ended with a great Friday.
Whatever is going on right now, I say I am under God's authority, and you will NOT come against me. In Jesus' name I will be granted favour....I will be respected. I will NOT be put in a box I do not want to be in. I will NOT be forced to make changes to to 'fix' what is not broken. I declare in Jesus' name that all things will work for MY good, for me who loves the Lord (Romans 8:28). 

The best parts of last week were my nights....spent at church for various meetings....prayer meeting, connect groups, and leadership. THEN came Sunday....and what a great end to a crappy week. While the days were crazy and stressful, the nights were so calm and joyful. When I am with my Lord, everything is good. There may be chaos around me, but God just helps me forget the feelings and enjoy his presence, and those he has placed in my presence. Thank you Lord for being the strong tower I have needed....please help this week to be a wonderful week with only good things....with many blessings and much favour. I will NOT be shaken! 

The Armor of God

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.¹³ Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵ and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

¹⁸ And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.    http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+6:9-19&version=NIV

Paul Wilbur

My Warfare Music.... Just loving it!!

http://www.myspace.com/wilburministries/radio

William Booth

I've been doing some reading on William Booth - in the early days preceding his birthing of the Salvation Army. This man really was a man of worth!

He had a calling. He knew it. His wife knew it (as with her own calling). But even so, they faced many roadblocks placed on their path to fulfilling this calling. The most interesting part, is that many of these 'roadblocks' were created by church leaders, and even his friends in committees of those churches. His ideas were too 'out there' for them. They wanted to stay in the cosy walls of their churches with rules & regulations...he wanted to go out and save those who were rejected from these walls... go right into the battle ground & rescue people from their inner wars. Reach out instead of 'shut out' (eg, refusing entry to churches).

This man had passion! He had determination. He knew who he was and whose he was - he was not going to miss his calling, not matter what came against him and his family. It must have been a frustrating journey at times...but he was rewarded for his obedience and determination. Many souls were saved.

Makes me think of Jesus....and how often he was ridiculed and rejected by the religious leaders of his day. He knew his calling - he was the son of God! He was not going to let these religious leaders stop him from fulfilling his calling.

Like Booth, he didn't want to go against them, but neither could he work with them.
I still have a lot more reading to do, but I am beginning to see just how big this man was - how he knew his calling, and was so determined to do God's will - despite what came against him.

Like World Wars 1 & 2, we often forget what people have sacrificed for us. Many of us are of generations who have not experienced war first-hand. We take so much freedom for granted because that's the way it has always been for us.

William Booth fought for us. He sacrificed for us. He saw the mission and did his best to fulfil it.
Imagine what this world would be like if men like him refused to do what God had called them to do... I don't think the Salvation Army would not have existed, had he not taken his calling seriously, but I don't think it would be the same.... I think we need to thank God for men like William Booth - God's First choice for the Salvation Army. Men who fought the battles and left a legacy for generations to come.

Beautiful song by Kerrie Roberts

Here's another awesome song by Kerrie Roberts.
I dedicate this to all who have been knocked down and experienced the loving hands of God gently lifting you back on your feet :) Be blessed :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQyXltkrzn8&feature=related

Forgiveness

If you haven't figured it out...God is doing something in me... I felt like I'd lost my 'spark'... I only shared this with one person....and then something happened! God has been reminding me over the last 2 days of all the wonderful things He has done in my life....the many times I have been protected when I could have been hurt or even killed....and just knowing I am meant to be here.

I never doubted I have a purpose...I just felt a bit flat. I knew it would pass...I have been blessed in so many ways.
No, I haven't been spared from pain and spiritual anguish, but I have never been alone. God has led me through it. I've been down some rocky paths, felt deep hurts....know the feeling of betrayal and broken trust... but I have come through it. Betrayal is something I would never wish upon anybody. It requires learning to forgive 70 times 7... (Matthew 18: 21-22) and more... learning to have a forgiving mindset, even if your heart takes longer to catch up.

Forgiveness can be a tough thing to deal with....but dealing with it and choosing to forgive, is much better than living in bitterness and regret. I can't say it's easy. It's not. But it is possible. If you are ever in a position to make the choice....I pray you choose forgiveness. It does not mean you have to like the other person. It simply means you choose to let them go, and forgive them. You release their grip on you. You move on.

Hurting people hurt people....don't be a hurter. Be a forgiver. 

"Painting Pictures of Egypt" by Sara Groves

Here's one of my all time favourite songs by Sara Groves.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yC9cKaELnG8&noredirect=1

I love the verse,

But the places that used to fit me, cannot hold the things I've learned...and those roads were closed off to me, while my back was turned...

We just need to keep pressing on, and looking forwards... the past is the past. We don't want to go back, despite it being familiar...and we have an Awesome Father who gently closes the roads while we're not looking - because if he didn't, we would want to keep returning to the past....and that's not where the blessings are :)

Navigation: S \ Sara Groves \ Painting Pictures Of Egypt  I don’t want to leave here I don’t want to stay It feels like pinching to me either way The places I long for the most Are the places where I’ve been They are calling after me like a long lost friend It’s not about losing faith It’s not about trust It’s all about comfortable When you move so much The place I was wasn’t perfect But I had found a way to live It wasn’t milk or honey But then neither is this CHORUS: I’ve been painting pictures of Egypt Leaving out what it lacked The future seems so hard And I want to go back But the places that used to fit me Cannot hold the things I"ve learned And those roads closed off to me While my back was turned The past is so tangible I know it by heart Familiar things are never easy to discard I was dying for some freedom But now I hesitate to go Caught between the promise And the things I know BRIDGE: If it comes too quick I may not recognize it Is that the reason behind all this time and sand? If it comes too quick I may not appreciate it Is that the reason behind all this time and sand? http://www.christianlyricsonline.com/artists/sara-groves/painting-pictures-of.html

And this one... "Less Like Scars", Sara Groves

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CjbCcyIiQw

Just love her lyrics!

"Scars" by Jonny Diaz

I heard this on the radio this morning....just loved the words... such a simple, yet powerful message. Hope you enjoy it :) Never forget that scars do not define you - "They remind us of of where we have been, not where we are".

Scars: Jonny Diaz
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbqs4vCXiOc

Rally to Make It Real « « everyaustraliancounts.com.au everyaustraliancounts.com.au

I went to this rally today. I accompanied one of my clients who lived in a nursing home for 5 years, even though he was in his early 30s when he moved. He has since moved into a new home with people closer to his age.
It was a huge experience, seeing so many people in wheelchairs and banners, etc. The results will be so worth the effort for these people.

Rally to Make It Real « « everyaustraliancounts.com.au everyaustraliancounts.com.au

Just pray! :s

... ... I don't know what to say... I just know I need to pray... for somebody I have never met.... somebody who I don't even know their name... somebody who is dying... I have no idea what they are like... I just know they have a daughter who I know... and I don't know what to say... God knows who you are...He knows what you need... I pray so much that your name is in the Lamb's Book of Life...if not right now, then soon... before it is too late... you have fought a good fight...hung around longer than expected... and I am praying for you... 

WHAT HAPPENS IN HEAVEN WHEN WE PRAY?

Here is a copy of an email I received today. I have no idea who the author is, but it is such a good read! :)


WHAT HAPPENS IN HEAVEN WHEN WE PRAY?

I dreamt that I went to Heaven and an angel was showing me around. We walked side-by-side inside a large workroom filled with angels. My angel guide stopped in front of the first section and said, 'This is the

Receiving Section. Here, all petitions to God said in prayer are received.

I looked around in this area, and it was terribly busy with so many angels sorting out petitions written on voluminous paper sheets and scraps from people all over the world.


Then we moved on down a long corridor until we reached the second section.


The angel then said to me, "This is the Packaging and Delivery Section. Here, the graces and blessings the people asked for are processed and delivered to the living persons who asked for them." I noticed again how
busy it was there. There were many angels working hard at that station, since so many blessings had been requested and were being packaged for delivery to Earth.


Finally at the farthest end of the long corridor we stopped at the door of a very small station. To my great surprise, only one angel was seated there, idly doing nothing. "This is the Acknowledgment Section, my angel friend quietly admitted to me. He seemed embarrassed.
 "How is it that there is no work going on here? I asked."


 "So sad," the angel sighed. "After people receive the blessings that they asked for, very few send back acknowledgments."


 "How does one acknowledge God's blessings? "I asked.


 "Simple," the angel answered. Just say, "Thank you, Lord."


 "What blessings should they acknowledge?" I asked.


 "If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep you are richer than 75% of this world. If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish, you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy, and if you get this on your own computer, you are part of the 1% in the world who has that opportunity."


 "If you woke up this morning with more health than illness.. You are more blessed than the many who will not even survive this day."


 "If you have never experienced the fear in battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation... You are ahead of 700 million people in the world."


 "If you can attend a church without the fear of harassment, arrest, torture or death you are envied by, and more blessed than, three billion people in the world."


 "If your parents are still alive and still married... you are very rare."


 "If you can hold your head up and smile, you are not the norm, you're unique to all those in doubt and despair......." 


 "Ok," I said. "What now? How can I start?"


 The Angel said, "If you can read this message, you just received a double blessing in that someone was thinking of you as very special and you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world who cannot read at all."
 Have a good day, count your blessings, and if you care to, pass this along to remind everyone else how blessed we all are..........


 ATTN: Acknowledge Dept.
 "Thank you Lord, for giving me the ability to share this message and for giving me so many wonderful people with whom to share it."


 If you have read this far, and are thankful for all that you have been blessed with, how can you not send it on?
 I thank God for everything, especially all my family and friends.


 Just be yourself.
 Everyone else is taken.

Changes....

I'm having an unexpected stirred up time....like I was a happy frog on my lily pad, then out of the blue, other frogs on different lily pads start to say "Hi" and I see their lily pads are different - but they also resemble things I used to desire...things I strived for but could never reach... even though I was told I would be good on those lily pads, the same people refused to make room for me to join them....

It's not that I want to be on those lily pads....it's more of what I can do that is different to my current lily pad. It took 10 years for me to finally feel settled on a lily pad. I tried a few, but none felt right for more than a season. I always wanted more. Now I'm beginning to wonder what else is in the pond that I am yet to discover!

It's also about people....people you used to be close to.... but you just feel like you matter as much to them as a grain of sand. It's not so bad....in a way it's natural to move on... but it's also not right when you feel excluded to the point you feel the door should close, but it can't close under the current circumstances....I hope that makes sense....if not, at least I know what I mean! haha! There are spiritual undercurrents...

The worst part is I have seen it before with the same people....and I didn't think it was right how they treated another member of the group.... now I find myself in that same position. As I said, it's not so bad. It's just that because I've seen it before, I understand it better.....even if it does suck.

Oh well, in order for one door to fully open, sometimes another door needs to close.
I love my new group of friends. My new church family. It feels like family - when we are apart for too long, I miss them. These people understand me. We relate to each other in ways others don't understand.
One thing we can guarantee in life is CHANGE....

I guess while I'm still alive, there will always be more lily pads to discover and explore....in the right seasons :)

Pay Attention to the Signs

Something I noticed this week that made me laugh and sigh...at the same time...

There are major roadworks in the area I live....they have been ongoing for over a year and will hopefully be finished sometime this year...

On Saturday there was a sign stating "Expect long delays", preceding a "Detour" sign. I couldn't believe how many cars ignored the Detour sign and got stuck in the warned 'long delays'!!! There had also been signs up all week suggesting this.

We took the detour, knowing it would be much quicker, even if it was longer....and halfway through, I could see the cars in the far distance, all banked up with nowhere to go....because they ignored the signs!


Needless to say, we were not at all delayed, and went on our merry way... we've lived here long enough to know better :)

Got me thinking....how many times in life do people ignore the warnings....and get caught up in the mess, because they ignored the warnings and the suggested way out/through/over/under....

How many times in life do we suffer the consequences of our own actions....when we should have known better.... when the way to avoid the mess was clearly in front of us, but we chose to ignore it...

Something to think about today;) 

Intercessors who leave the arena...

My heart is saddened... people who knew the 'fullness of joy' have traded it for a 'worldly life'. People who were fighting hard in the arena of intercession...listening to God's voice... obedient to His will....with such a childlike faith, they believed anything was possible... and suddenly, one person or one circumstance changed everything.

Their world was shaken. They stumbled in the arena, and instead of continuing to fight, they gave up.
....it sounds like such a simple thing to do. To just give up. But it's sooooooo much more than that!!!

Once you have been in the arena, you are changed. Even if you turn your back and walk away, the arena stays in the deep places of your soul...whether or not you choose to remember....it is there.
It will continually call you back....in that still, small voice.... like a long lost friend you never intended to abandon... it will keep calling until you acknowledge it's voice.

The battle continues without you, but it would be so much better if you were back in the arena...
You know who you are... you can't forget what it was like to be in the arena... to be broken and stripped raw....and to feel all the gaps and hurts filled with the tender love of your creator. He brought life into the dark places...

He is calling you....tenderly and gently...he won't force you back, but he will never give up on His princess...
I just want you to know I love you and will not give up on you either! We may not speak much any more....but you will never leave my heart, beautiful girl.  I pray you do not make decisions you will later regret....

Alien

I am sooooo not of this world... but neither are the most important people in my life :)
I love you all - the strangest, funniest, most caring, wisest, chosen people who just can't fit the boxes the world wants us in...and wouldn't want to fit in them anyway! :)

God's heart surgery...

Lately God has been showing me how far I have come from who I became 10 years ago....how I changed because of circumstances....how my heart was broken and I felt God had abandoned me in my biggest time of need...

...but he never left me for one second. No, I wasn't able to feel his presence, and I felt my cries for help were echoing against the wall...but he simply allowed me to experience something he knew I could handle....and he knew I would later see he did not abandon me. He was there all the time...but he allowed me to experience the consequences of an innocently made bad choice... and just when I felt I could take no more, he suddenly showed up and ended it.

It's funny when you remember a time of being on one side of a fence....and you yearn so badly to be on the other side... and then one day you realise you are on the other side! It took a long time to get there, a lot of 'heat surgery' and just crawling into God's lap and letting it go... but it came. It was hard work. It was tough. It took a lot of courage to get through.... but I did it :)

Now, I see a friend going through the same kind of 'heart surgery' I had to go through... different reasons, but the same God who wants to strip away all our hurts and pain....because he knows it will make us stronger, and we will feel so much better for it.

My friend is so beautiful, with so much to offer this world. She is a real treasure, and I really want to see her get to the other side of the fence like I did. It's not a fun time to be in God's presence, having parts of you stripped away, but when you look back, it is one of the most precious memories in your life....a time when you were so close to God... a time when you could let go and be totally raw....and know he would help you get out all the black stuff in your heart...be a child cradled in his arms, protected 'under his wing'...  believe it or not, your journey has been encouraging me by bringing back memories of places I have been, but have now left behind.

So, if you're reading this, beautiful friend - I do know what it's like to be stripped raw... I feel so blessed to be able to pray for you and just be there for you. I know how hard it can be - but you can do it :) You have already come so far :) You are strong! Don't let the enemy tell you you're weak because you are a Child of God! He has already gone before you and knows what is to come - he will not let you walk a path, or go through a door unprepared :)

Be Joyful :)

My last post was a while ago. Much has happened since then; little has happened since then.
We live in an amazing world....and it's sad that so many souls have not yet experienced 'pure joy'. So many souls are yearning for what they do not know... others are yearning for what they have known, but somewhere in their path was lost. There is so much to be joyful about....and so many people who simply don't know how to be joyful.

Some people lost their joy because of something others did to them...
Some grew up afraid to experience joy in case they were punished...
Some people have so little, yet have so much joy.
Some know how to make millions and live a lavish life....but these people also don't know how to be happy...

EVERYBODY has the ability to feel joy. It is we who prevent ourselves from feeling.

I pray every person who reads this blog will experience a real sense of pure joy. A joy you have never known. A knowing that deep down, you have sooooooo much value. You are special. There are things in this life that you are good at - please don't be afraid to do what you enjoy - to open your heart and feel.

Be the person God created you to be!
Don't let past hurts or fears...or anything else steal your joy!
Your life is for living. Live it! Go out and think of all the things you have to be grateful about.....and enjoy this beautiful world God created for us. People are doing a good job at destroying our world and it's people, but that is no reason to not enjoy what He has blessed us with!

If you look for the bad in something, you will find it.
If you look for the good in something, you will find it! 

Thank you Jesus for the wonderful gifts you give us - the simple things we often take for granted.