A place where my thoughts, words and feelings converge…
Author: charlotteannrobinson.com
I enjoy reading, writing and searching for truths. I am active in my church and like participating in small groups learning and developing new ideas and skills in becoming the person God created me to be. God has blessed me with so much and my desire is to share my thoughts and words with you in hopes they comfort and inspire you.
Dear friend, my prayer for the world today is twofold, first and foremost for the gospel of Jesus to be shared around the world and secondly, I ask for an awaken of all people to unite and conquer COVID-19. We all have a responsibility and can do our part in minimizing its effects around the globe. Most importantly wash your hands often, do not touch your face, cover your coughs and sneezes, avoid physical contact and practice social distancing. No hugging, no handshaking. I will be the first to say this is difficult! I need physical contact with others; I’m a hugger, I like to shake hands and pat people of the shoulder but in order to conquer and extinguish this disease we all must do our part.
Dictionary: Awaken
• rousing
• quickening
• coming into awareness of something
• a renewal of interest in religion
• a realization
ειρήνη – “Peace” in Greek, reference listed the below.
The words we use matter. When we release words without thought, we are often quick to say things we didn’t intend on saying. “Listen more, speak less” is a phrase I’ve heard a lot of people use. Speaking from profound experience, it is always better to think about your words before speaking them into action. I have spoken words that were uninformed, making myself feel and look foolish. A lesson I’m continually working on. I have to remind myself of that foolish feeling every time I start to critique someone else’s misspoken words. God has extend grace to each of us, we should be practicing that grace with one another. None of us are perfect and I know I make mistakes everyday. I’m thankful for my friends, family and colleagues that extend grace to me. Let us release our grace freely to all we meet.
Friends, thank you for spending time with me and I pray we all share more love, more compassion and more grace to one another.
Practice:
1. How do you contradict yourself?
2. Ask God to help you confess and release these contradictions.
3. Offer yourself and those around you grace.
ειρήνη – “Peace” in Greek, reference listed below.
Beauty is found in the eye of the beholder. Story below.
Merriam-Webster Dictionary: GLORY
• something that secures praise or renown
• great beauty and splendor
• the splendor and beatific happiness of heaven
• to rejoice proudly
One of the first things that comes to mind when I hear or think of the word “GLORY” is God! As a born again Christian, I say this, “All Praise and GLORY to God the Father for all He has done or ever will do.”
1 Corinthians 10:31
“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.”
So, here’s the back story of the photos. The image is not really an Angel, it was some lint from my dryer vent that attached itself to my wire shelf. When I first saw it, I immediately saw an Angel and then I thought of my mom. I thought of mom for two reasons; the first was that this is a sign from God, telling me that I’m ok and she’s ok too. It was as if God was saying, “she’s in Heaven with me!” I took the photo on 08/05/2016 and my mom had passed away on 06/22/2012. The second reason is my mom taught me from a very young age that keeping your home clean and neat was important, this lint would not have passed her test! In that brief moment in time I experienced so many emotions, but mostly I’m thankful for the reminder that God’s in control and deserves all GLORY!
ειρήνη – “Peace” in Greek, reference listed the below.
*Photo taken by me at Butler University-Clowes Hall
Ephesians 5:8-11
“For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light— for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true. Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.”
RELEASE: Merriam-Webster Dictionary
• to set free from restraint, confinement, or servitude
• to relieve from something that confines, burdens, or oppresses
• relief or deliverance from sorrow, suffering, or trouble
Rev. Sam writes on page 27, “Our lives are a delicate balance of darkness and light.” She had references how this process is very much like developing photos via a dark room. Old school film developing.
My own personal experiences of light and darkness have evolved as I have grown and accepted certain truths.
• Light chases darkness away
• Darkness and fear are not the same thing.
When I was a very young child, I experienced fear and darkness together in a single moment that haunted me into adulthood. I allowed that one incident to permanently join fear and darkness together. That singularity of mind caused me a lot of grief through the years. It wasn’t until I was forced to face this obstacle straight-on that I discovered it wasn’t the darkness I feared but the lack of light. That was the simple truth, the light was missing. This is equally applicable in my Christian life; when I begin to feel scared, fearful and afraid I take a look at what I’m doing and what I’m not doing. The questions are: am I reading my Bible; am I getting enough rest; am I eating healthy; am I getting exercise; am I getting outside and soaking up some sunlight.
Best advice:
Spend time in the Sun!
Spend time with the Son!
Practice:
1. Where is the darkness in your life?
2. How has this darkness shaped you?
• Now find a way into the light.
• Sit in the sun or light a candle.
ειρήνη – “Peace” in Greek, reference listed below.
This photo was taken at Walt Disney World in Florida in September 2019. It brings back wonderful memories of a vacation I shared with three coworkers. It is such a blessing to be able to look at photos or even recall from memory the fun we shared. With the current situation going on in the world and lots of things on lockdown or closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I’m thankful to have these things to celebrate.
“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” ~Psalm 118:24
ειρήνη – “Peace” in Greek, reference listed the below.
Beverley has been serving the Lord since she was a child. At an early age, she recognized that God had a special plan for her life, but it was not until in her adulthood that she surrendered her total life to God and accepted the mandate that God placed on her life. The Lord called her into His Kingdom to be an encourager, intercessor, teacher, scribe, priest, and to proclaim the Word of God. Since then, Beverly has established a blog to teach us to become the oil and wine. The oil and wine are purified and mature products, which is the advanced level that the Lord expected of us. In 2017, Beverley published her first book, Harm Not The Oil And Wine. In it, she described her trials and how God helped her to overcome them, and to live more victoriously. The book also exposed the enemy of our souls with detailed information about his past defeats and future extinction. Wright spents most of her time studying the Bible to know the truth of God’s Word. She believes that only God’s truth can expose the deception of the enemy, and uproot and tear down spiritual strongholds. You can learn more about Beverley’s life and testimony on her website becomingtheoilandwine.com. You can also find her on Facebook and Google+ under the name of her blog, and on Twitter as @Theoilandwine.View all posts by Beverley
The Sunshine Blogger Award Rules
Beverley’s Questions To Me:
Do you consider yourself a people person?
What is the best thing that you like about yourself?
How do you spend your free time?
Have you read through the Bible and can you memorize scripture verses?
What is your opinion about the coronavirus pandemic?
My Answers to Beverley’s Questions:
Yes, I enjoy my quiet time alone but I need people. Socially engaging with my family and friends helps me emotionally and spiritually.
I like my eagerness to learn..
I love taking pictures of nature, I like to read, I like to write, I love eating out in restaurants, driving my car in remote places seeing the beauty of God’s creation.
I have not read the Bible cover to cover in chronological order. I have read portions of each book of the Bible but not in it’s entirety. I would like to accomplish this in the future. I memorized many verses as a kid in Sunday School and while attending a Christian High School as well as a Christian College/University. Many are still easy to recall.
COVID-19 has disrupted the entire globe and affected so many people. I am cautious in stating a personal opinion because I do not want to sway anyone in any one direction. I will say that we have a real opportunity to renew/refresh ourselves and how we treat others through this pandemic. People matter and Words matter! We should see this as a way to unite as humans, no one is exempt from this disease, no one person is more important than another. We are all God’s children and we should starting treating one another as siblings and not enemies.
Thank you Beverley for this nomination and award, I am honored for the recognition. I am so thankful for my dear friend, JJ who encouraged me and prayed for me as I began this new journey. I am continually astonished at the individuals around the world reading my blog, living in places that I can only wish to visiting some day. This is the work of God, I am blessed to be a messenger and vessel to share the love and promises of God to the world.
Hello friends! I wanted to let you know that I updated my Inspirational Photos Page on my Blog. Simply click the the words “Inspirational Photos” on the Home Page. Thank you all for your continued support. I hope you find encouragement, comfort and reassurance of God’s enduring, unfailing LOVE. The world is facing a common enemy in COVID-19 and my heart breaks for all who are affected. Stay strong in your faith. Trust in the PROMISES of God!
The Bible gives us many examples of listening. It is when we quiet ourselves that we can hear God speaking to us. I love the sounds of nature, birds singing, the wind blowing, ocean water as it crashing into the shore, the thunder during a storm, all these and many more. All of these are gifts from our Heavenly Father.
What are ways you listen for God’s small still voice in your life?
Here’s a few verses that teach us about listening:
“Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” ~Mark 9:7
“We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will.” ~John 9:31
“Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold is a wise rebuke to a listening ear.” ~Proverbs 25:12
“They are from the world; therefore what they say is from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us, and whoever is not from God does not listen to us. From this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.” ~1 John 4:5-6
“Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!” ~Luke 9:35
ειρήνη – “Peace” in Greek, reference listed the below.
Words Matter! I have a friend that uses that phrase from time to time. Each time I hear it, it’s truth rings loud. I use words too quickly and often find myself backpedaling my way out of a situation that could have been avoided. Speaking before giving thought to words usually does not end well especially when emotions are in play. I have tried to practice another phrase that my wise friend uses; area of concern and area of control! Sounds easy enough doesn’t it? It makes total sense to me in theory it’s the practical application that gets me into trouble. Simply put, each of us have countless things we are concerned about; however, we are actual only in control of very few.
Inspiration: BDC
Indeed, the words we use are very powerful, they can bless and curse. It is the smallest of things in life that can make the biggest difference such as, the size of the rudder in comparison to the size of the ship it moves or how the slightest little spark can cause a raging fire. Our tongue or as James describes it in verse 8 of chapter 3, “but no one can tame the tongue—a restless evil, full of deadly poison.” Rev. Sam says on page 26 of the pamphlet, we should listen more and speak less and the best way to be full of blessing is to place ourselves before God.
There are times when we need to seek forgiveness for the words we speak. Sometimes, we seek refuge from cursing we did not ask for. A lesson I’ve learned and continue to learn is we are all sinners and need forgiveness. Just as God forgives, grants mercy and grace we must do the same for others. Forgiveness does not mean you condone or excuse someone’s offenses, you release your resentment of the actions. “…since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” ~Romans 3:23-24
The tongue and the words it can produce can be used or good or great evil.
Practice:
As you examine your words in the quiet, where has this restless evil hurt you?
How have you hurt others?
If there is someone you have wronged with your words, can you reach out and ask for grace?
ειρήνη – “Peace” in Greek, reference listed below.
DISCOVER 
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