Have you heard of the “My One Word” movement that was started a few years ago? It’s a fascinating process where you choose a word that has been laid upon your heart and seek to live into it. I participated in this activity 3-4 years ago at my church and have continued the process. My “One Word” was and remains “CLARITY.” I felt that God had placed that word upon my heart after prayer and contemplation at the beginning of my journey to live into my one word. God has blessed me throughout this process with people, experiences and books helping me to define clarity for myself. With a new year approaching and people talking about making resolutions along with the unlikelihood of keeping the resolution past the first few weeks, or even the first few days of the new year, I found myself wondering where 2018 would take me(?). As I was driving home from a long weekend with my family today, my mind began wondering as I took in old familiar sights and recalled memories of long ago I suddenly felt the Holy Spirit press upon my heart the word “BOLD!” It was so strong I thought I had actually heard the word spoken! I know that God has something in store for me in 2018, I’ve felt so for some time now, that God is preparing me for a journey or an experience and I have no doubt that “clarity” and “bold” have something to do with it. Ask any of my friends that have known me since I was young and they will tell you I have a tendency to be a little stubborn, a trait I have tried to lessen over the years. Through my search for clarity I have learned that stubbornness can be a tiresome battle that is rarely worth the harm it causes. I have a trusted friend that taught me a very valuable lesson that has helped me in more ways than I could possibly or adequately explain but I will give you the basics of the lesson, I would often become overwhelmed with things especially at work but also in my personal life and my friend’s advise was so perfect and simple I finally saw the “bigger” picture. The phrase is this: “Area of Concern” and “Area of Control.” Once you figure out these two things life begins to be much clearer than ever before. If you don’t “control” it, you will always be disappointed and let down by it; however, you can still have a concern. Now, if it is a “concern” you will have to tell yourself, how much of myself am I willing to lose over a concern that I have absolutely no control of or over(?). Great advise! This bit of knowledge has helped me in so many circumstances I can honestly say that my stress level has drastically lowered and it’s much easier to differentiate boundaries in my personal and professional life. Learning this lesson has helped me more clearly understand “clarity.” I have had some high and low points in my life in the past and I have to say I’ve experienced a lot more high points in the past year and I’m also feeling like I’m at a plateau, not really a crossroad more like “balanced” which is absolutely wonderful and it’s a good thing to feel balanced in life but balanced can also seem “stationary” and I want to continuing growing and gaining, there’s still so much more to learn and share. This is where “bold” comes into play and perspective. I don’t want to become stagnant most especially in my spiritual life but my personal life as well, the whole of who I am (body, mind and soul). There’s endless opportunities to learn and share God’s message and my hope is to continue to do both with BOLDNESS in 2018. I appreciate everyone who reads my blog posts and my prayer is that you see past my words and see God and give Him praise. I realize this is a couple of days early for New Years but I am wishing you the Happiest of New Year in 2018!

My One Word by Mike Ashcraft & Rachel Olsen. http://www.myoneword.org

Bible references for BOLD:
Psalm 138:3 “When I called, you answered me; you greatly emboldened me.”
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Psalm%20138:3&version=NIV

Proverbs 28:1 “Sinners run away even when no one is chasing them. But those who do what is right are as bold as lions.”
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Proverbs%2028:1&version=NIRV

Acts 4:29 “Now, Lord, consider the bad things they say they are going to do. Help us to be very bold when we speak your word.”
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Acts%204:29&version=NIRV

Bible references for CLARITY:
1 Corinthians 13:12 “Now we see only a dim likeness of things. It is as if we were seeing them in a foggy mirror. But someday we will see clearly. We will see face to face. What I know now is not complete. But someday I will know completely, just as God knows me completely.”
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1%20Corinthians%2013:12&version=NIRV

2 Corinthians 4:6 “God said, “Let light shine out of darkness.” ( Genesis 1:3 ) He made his light shine in our hearts. His light gives us the light to know God’s glory. His glory is shown in the face of Christ.”
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=2%20Corinthians%204:6&version=NIRV

Psalm 119:18 “Open my eyes so that I can see the wonderful truths in your law.”
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Psalm%20119:18&version=NIRV

Dictionary definition of Clarity: the quality or state of being clear.

Dictionary definition of Bold: fearless before danger; showing or requiring a fearless daring spirit.

~Blessings and Peace~

Merry Christmas to you! This song is one of my favorites to sing and listen to during the Christmas season. It reminds me of my best friend from high school, it was her favorite song too.  My life has certainly changed through the years since high school; I have learned a lot over the years and would not be interested in going back and I’m thankful for the lessons I learned back then. It’s interesting to me, how life’s lessons affect us differently as we grow and mature and eventually reflect upon our past. It’s true what some people say about young people seem to be in a hurry to grow up and how grown ups seem to wish they had spent more time being young and active(?). I’ve tried to live my life with no regrets, I’ve made plenty of mistakes and done things I wish I had not done but if I chose to regret them all, I would also forfeit the lessons I learned in each of those instances. The most difficult thing I struggle with is forgiving myself and I am learning that it hinders me from experiencing God forgiveness and fullness. These things have been weighing on my heart as I have been preparing for the Christmas celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ many years ago in Bethlehem. Why did Jesus come to us as a baby? Why did He subject himself to pain and rejection of so many? The answer is simply LOVE! Jesus loves all His children, His creations and wants each of us to spend eternity with Him in Heaven. As you celebrate Christmas this year I pray that you seek to know Jesus and to keep “Christ” in your Christmas. Another favorite thing  from my childhood was reading the “Birth of Jesus” from Luke’s gospel chapter two, I pray it brings you the good news you need to hear.

Luke 2:1-20  “In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.”
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Luke%202:1-20&version=NIV

Let There Be Peace and Let It Begin With Me.
~Blessings and Peace~

I was looking forward to attending the Longest Day-Blue Christmas service at my church on December 21st. As I prepared to leave and get into my car, I noticed an orange sticker on my driver’s side back window, as I tore it off I read it was a towing notice because I was parked in a handicapped spot with no hang-tag for doing so. I immediately became “enraged” because I thought to myself, everyone who lives in my building has parked here on some occasion, why me? Why did I get the sticker(?). Before I go much further, I would like to clarify that I don’t always park illegally in handicapped spots, this one in particular is often the only spot available because no one in my building has a handicap, so not that this fact makes right, but we all take turns parking there if it’s the only spot open. It surprised me that I was so angry…then I thought to myself, I can’t go to church with my heart filled with all this overwhelming rage. I took a serious look at my feelings and thought processes and the question that came to me very loud and clear was this…What are you angry about(?) and Who are you really angry with(?).

There was a part of me that wished the realtor office had been open so I could vent my frustrations about having a bright neon orange sticker placed on my window, but it was closed. I was driving to the church and all these negative thoughts filled all the corners of my mind and I felt myself wanting to feed this ugly and negative process. I was literally acting out the cartoon scene where there’s s devil on one shoulder and an angel on the other. I knew in my heart this is not what I should be doing and my heart told me to turn the radio on and tune into K-LOVE, I did and my ears did not want to hear the words of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. The answers to my questions were not far away, they were right at the surface and I just didn’t want them to break through and shatter this angry delusion I was feeding. Anger has a way of taking hold and tells us lies about its power and possibilities, all of these things are for the benefit of anger and leaves the person empty and alone, anger stays only long enough to cause horrific damage and then it slivers away looking for new opportunities to steal joy. I thank God for His unfailing Love, for His unconditional Love…I was able to let my anger dissolve into the nothingness from where it had come from, the answers broke through and I was angry at myself, I knew parking illegally was wrong and I took the chance of being caught. It’s not the person’s fault that placed the sticker on my car, they were just doing their job. It wasn’t personal, although it felt like it because as humans we are selfish like that. There’s no fault but my own, natural consequences of a wrongful act. I’m thankful that the office was closed, I’m thankful for radio stations like K-LOVE and I am most thankful that God loves me and He doesn’t demand perfection and forgives each of us our sins, more accurately our selfishness in excluding God from our lives. I’m also thankful for the 20 minute drive to church and for the heavy traffic. All these things might just seem random even normal activities of daily life and yet I can only see the Hands of God weaving through my life with comfort, encouragement, truth and yes even the choice to believe and be faithful to Him. I prayed in my car, sitting at a stoplight and ask God to forgive me and to take my anger because I was misguided by my emotions and found myself conflicted and in misery because I was in opposition of God, not a feeling of peace, my actions/thought were separating me from the love of God. I had to let go and surrender to God and allow the Holy Spirit to consume me before I could enter my church and experience the love of Jesus through the service along with my brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. I physically took some deep breaths and exhaled, ridding myself of the poisonous air within my lungs and body. I was at peace and upon arriving at the church I was immediately greeting in the parking lot by a very dear friend, the first friend I encountered as a new member at this church over 5 years ago and that friendship has blessed me beyond imagination over the years. I felt light, my burden had been lifted and I could hardly wait to be with friends to worship God and share in a small quiet service remembering family members that are no longer able to be with us during holiday celebrations and knowing they will forever be in our hearts. Through tears and prayers we lit candles to remember, we were anointed with oil and we prayed and sang songs to God from whom all blessings flow.

“Blue Christmas, also called the Longest Night in the Western Christian tradition, is a day in the Advent season marking the longest night of the year. On this day, some churches hold a church service that honours people who have lost loved ones in that year.”

After the service I was fortunate enough to enjoy a relaxing dinner with four friends, we shared stories and we laughed. God is good, GOD IS ALWAYS GOOD!
The Birth of Jesus

“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.” Luke 2:1-20 (NIV)

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16-17 (NIV)

~Blessings and Peace~

 

 

 

Celebrating is something we all do especially at this time of year, Advent-The Christmas Story. Tonight, I spent time with my Aunt, her two daughters and two of her granddaughters; we wrapped Christmas gifts for her ever-growing family. I believe we counted 15 grandkids under the age of 10(?) then there’s my aunts 5 kids/spouses and then the grandkids over the age of 10! Let’s just say, family gatherings are large! In my opinion, it’s BEAUTIFUL! If there’s a single thing I am most proud of it is “FAMILY!” I have been so fortunate to have strong God-fearing relatives (most especially strong women) that set a very high bar of integrity before me. Spending time with my Aunt is always a wonderful time for me, she has been a constant family support my whole life. She is my mom’s baby sister and was always very close to my mom. I have to pause life every once in a while and reflect upon just how “BLESSED” I am! As some of you might remember, my mom passed away in 2012 and as time goes on I miss my mom terribly and when I have the opportunity to spend time with relatives like tonight, I can almost sense her in our midst as we laugh, tell old stories and share memories while making new ones. My aunt is much like a second mom, she has scolded me more than once and I’m pretty sure she swatted my back side a time or two. We have laughed and cried together and I am so proud to be a part of the rich tapestry, I call family. It was important for me to share this story with you so that I could better explain the title of this piece. As I was driving home tonight (an hour drive) I had a lot of quiet time to reflect on the evening and about Christmas and the celebration of Advent. Of course, “Jesus is the Reason for the Season!” I found myself thinking about Mary and all the things that were happening to her and I thought Mary would have been having all the same kind of wishes and dreams that all mothers have concerning their children. Mary, experienced all the emotions that we celebrate during Advent.
Hope-for a happy future for her baby.
Peace-for in the life of her baby.
Joy-for all the days to be filled with joy for her baby.
Peace-enormous prosperity and calmness in the life of her baby.

Basically, mom’s want the very best for their children and for their children to learn more, attain more, to have more of every good thing in life, to have more opportunities than were available to them.

For the record, I am not a mom and in a way I’m just theorizing on the “feelings” of motherhood. I was very close to my mom and had engaged in a few “mother/daughter bonding” conversations over the years. From my perspective, parents make huge sacrifices for their children, God did the same when He gave His only Son to pay the price for all the sins of humanity. My thoughts go to Mary, she was given the gift of motherhood, a challenging responsibility and she had hopes and dreams for Jesus and not one was to be crucified, yet that is exactly what happened. Sure, Jesus grew into manhood but He was also Mary’s son, her little boy. Her heart, she found favor in God true enough and her heart was created to love Jesus like no other woman could. Mary had extraordinary strength and she listened, trusted and followed the instructions from God. There’s nothing that compares to the Love of God! Just as there’s nothing quite like the love between a child and their mother. My prayer for you is that the Love of God fill you to overflowing to overwhelming as you experience Advent in a new and exciting way this year.

Below is copied from: https://www.liturgylink.net/2014/11/11/advent-candles-hope-peace-joy-love/
The first week of Advent (December 3rd) is all about Hope.

Think about hope as you hear Lamentations 3: 21-24:
“But this I call to mind,
and therefore I have hope:
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases,
God’s mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“therefore I will hope in the Lord.”

Prayer: Gracious God, As the Advent season begins, we cry out to you. We come to you looking for hope. When everything else we rely on fails us, our only hope is in you. When we do not understand what has happened, we hope in you. We can hope for better days because we trust you. We know you and we know you are here with us no matter what we are facing. Some of us see only darkness this time of year. Some of us find life overwhelming. Some of us are filled with Advent joy. Wherever we find ourselves today, Loving God, remind us that our hope is in you. Be with us on this journey. Amen.

For the second week in Advent (December 10th), we focus on Peace.

In John 14:27, Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.”

Prayer: Prince of Peace, reveal yourself to us today. We need peace in our lives, our homes, our families, our church, and our whole world. Help us to slow down and seek out the peace you provide, so we may become peacemakers for ourselves and others. In your name, Prince of Peace, we pray. Amen.

During the third week in Advent (December 17th), we spend time thinking about Joy.

From Psalm 5:11, we hear these words,“But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, so that those who love your name may exult in you.”

Prayer: Too often, we think joy is something big, O God. A brass band or a parade can certainly bring us joy. Just as easily and far more often, we can feel joy in a hug or the squeeze of hand, we can see joy in a smile or hear it in laughter. Help us to not overlook the simple joys that peak into our lives daily. This week in our Advent journey, open our eyes to the joy that surrounds us. Amen.

In this final week of Advent (December 24th), our attention is on Love. The following Scripture verses may sound very familiar, so we will hear them twice. The first time is in the New Revised Standard Version. The second time you’ll be reading from the Message. Listen for the call to love in these words.

Matthew 22:36-40 says, “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

”Teacher, which command in God’s Law is the most important?” Jesus said, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.’ This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ These two commands are pegs; everything in God’s Law and the Prophets hangs from them.”

Prayer: God, we have learned to love from being loved by you. And so today, let us enact that love. Let us live that love. We know that what the world needs now is more love. We need to remember how much you love each one of us and we must share that love with others. Amen.

More to share look for a Christmas Day posting…

Luke 2:1-20 -https://www.biblegateway.com/

~Blessings and Peace~

 

 

https://charlotteannrobinson.com/2017/11/18/dreams/
I experienced another dream recently and just today I confided in a friend about the content of that dream. A bit of background to set the stage, I was enjoying lunch with my friend and we were sharing with one another stories of our recent Thanksgiving activities. We had not been able to connect for the past few weeks and it was so relaxing to just interact and communicate face to face. As we were sharing with one another our conversation lead to a recent blog posts of mine and as we were talking I was reminded of a second dream since the first one I wrote about. As I mentioned in my earlier post, I do not know the meaning of dreams or what they might be composed of and for but nonetheless it moved me and took hold of my thoughts. Over the past few years I’ve had the distinct feeling that I am on a journey or at least preparing for a journey. I have tried to open myself to whatever God is leading me to as well as what God is leading me away from. I would be the first to say, “life is complicated.” I would also go on to say, “life is simple.” Both of these can be true, as sinful human beings we, yes “we” complicate things and at the very same time we can also see that life can be simple and clear. I would never say life is easy, it is definitely not easy and yet it can be lived with joy, zeal and love. God’s promises are true and His Words are healing, teaching, comforting, and life breathing. I use the word “simple” in regards to the teaching of the Bible, God has provided a step by step guide to be obedient, loving children of God. God goes into great detail explaining His love for each of us, He purposefully created each of us with specific gifts. Wow! How incredible is that(?). As far as dreams go, they are often about more than just the dream, allegories and metaphors for things. So, my first dream was about meeting someone who seemed to be destined to be part of my life, it felt intimate. It produced a sense of harmony and completeness like I’ve never felt before. I don’t recall seeing the person’s face in my dream, only their hair and oddly their eyes. Not so much a reflection of the eyes, more a sense of their soul. Now, with regards to my more recent dream it too left me feeling things I’ve missed and longed for. The dream takes place in a sparsely filled room, sitting at a round table, perhaps it’s a restaurant. I’m sitting at the table and sitting to my left is my mom, we were talking and all of a sudden my gaze went towards someone approaching our table and I seemed to have lost all consciousness of the moment because all my attention had been diverted to the person approaching. I can hear and feel my mom say with a smile, the smile that only a parent can produce when they know that their child is truly happy…she says, “That’s the One! I can just tell, I can see the love!” Then I wake from my dream…wanting to return to that place just to catch a glimpse of the one, of the love. I can’t even begin to try to describe the feeling of seeing my mom smile and be happy for me and optimistic for me, to be proud of me, she was joyfully happy. As for the “one” I’m not sure what any of it truly means and I’m putting my trust in God, maybe it means I’m ready to see what the future might hold for me, I’m a hopeless romantic and love happy endings. Perhaps the “one” is a newer version of myself, self-discovery towards a journey for God or meeting my soul mate that God created just for me(?). The first step to any of this is giving God control, trusting in His Will. There is one lesson I am trying to accept and learn, moving forward can only be successful when we let go of things that keep us in the past. Often I feel overwhelmed because I have one hand on the future and one hand on the past, creating an emotional tug-a-war! I recently talked about this in my blog entitled “Emotional Cleaning” and I explained the acceptance that things can be “true” and “not true” just because something is not true now doesn’t mean it wasn’t true at the time it was said or written.  I came to this realization when I was sifting through old birthday cards and old scrapbooks, reading old love letters and promise that were made and knowing that things are vastly different now. I was initially hurt because the words were not true or not true today, how unfair I was being to myself and to those memories.  Those things were true at the time the cards and letters were written, I’m choosing to be thankful for the happy memories and mindful of where they belong, in the past. They will not go away if I simply let go of holding onto them. Just as one of my favorite poems says, “…some leave footprints on our hearts…”. People are guided into our lives when we need them, and when they have fulfilled their purpose, they will move onto the next person who needs them. This way of thinking has not been an easy task for me, it wasn’t until I realized that I’ve had a lifetime of these experiences of unique and special individuals being a part of my life when I needed them the most.  I challenge myself and you to choose to be happy they were and are a part of our life story, not sad because they had to move on.
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”
Matthew 6:25-27 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Matthew%206:25-27&version=NIV
“Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
Jeremiah 29:12-13 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Jeremiah%2029:12-13&version=NIV

~Blessings and Peace~