How easily we are swayed by the people and circumstances that surround us. Good, bad or indifferent, they make their marks upon us and in most cases find their way inside us where it hides from the outside world. Our ideation, values and self-confidence begins with our families, then from our friends, teachers and public figures. We all must be able to reconcile ourselves when we see our reflection in the mirror as well as our hearts. I believe that God has blessed each of us with very specific gifts and talents; however, we must be mindful to the paths we choose to take. We are all human, and with our humanness we are foul-able, our choices help us to grow and discern. I know all too well that fear can choke us and keep us from pursuing our hearts desire. I know for me fear wins all too often, I’m scared of rejection but this fear also keeps me from truth. Is it possible for me to experience love, or even participate in fleshly desires? I’m too scared to act because of rejection. I do not want to be seen as a fool and/or as someone reaching beyond their limitations.  The sad part is by taking no action I have already lost. Fear is a dictator and I want to move past this but I am too scared to try.

Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips. – Prov. 27:2

No Wants, No Desires – Know Wants, Know Desires:

“Say what you mean, mean what you say.”

Can you imagine what life would be like, if everyone lived by that simple statement? No more hurtful conversations, no need for apologies and our intentions would be transparent creating relationships build upon trust and confidence. No hidden agendas and hearts could do what they were created to be…filled with love, grace and mercy.

Living with integrity and intentional.

“Seeing clearer as if scales are falling from my eyes. ~Mary Hayes

You don’t have to be good at starting over just good at letting go.

“The only real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.”

“For one human being to love another; that is perhaps the most difficult of all our tasks…the work for which all other work is but preparation.” ~Rainer Marie Rilke

http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/us/2015/03/06/newday-ad-council-love-no-labels.cnn.html

Courage, Love and You

Be courageous, take a chance on love or like; it’s the only true way to find it. We can’t be afraid of the unknown. Don’t be fearful of doors that are shut, shut doors are not necessarily closed doors. It may be scary to tell someone how you feel but, by not telling them and living with regret is a far worse thing to hold onto. Be brave, be true and above all be honest with yourself and validate your feelings and give yourself permission to find answers to your burning questions. I am telling you from experience, a very recent experience that even if you don’t get the answer you were hoping for…the most important thing is YOU ask the question. YOU were BRAVE, YOU were COURAGEOUS, but most of all YOU LOVED yourself enough not to live with fear and regret. YOU ARE SO LOVED!

Love…

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

My visions of love…

Sounds of ocean waves as the meet the shore

See the dew kissing the blades of grass and petals of wild flowers

Feeling the warm summer breeze caress my skin

Mesmerized by the nighttime sounds surrounding the lake while watching the moon dancing on its surface

Love is everywhere and nowhere near.

It’s that time of the year when most of us make resolutions and proclamations forecasting our desired behavior outcome during the next 12 months; however, most of us are lucky to make it 12 days, let alone 12 months! Most people see “New Years” resolutions as a fresh start, the opportunity to improve oneself or simply to say “redo!” In years past I’ve probably made resolutions similar to the ones bouncing around in your minds right now…get health, exercise, lose weight, start dating, learn a new language, go back to school, learn to dance, try something new…ok, you get the idea. First and foremost, being honest with oneself is paramount when making or just thinking about changes and resolutions. During 2014, I had the opportunity to be involved with a challenge called, “My One Word,” it’s a process of finding a single word and then living into that word and learning what it truly means to you. My One Word was “Clarity” it has not been as transparent as one might think it would be. (Yep, I was trying to be funny!) *Go ahead and laugh or smile, no ones looking! So, “clarity” where to start? Basically, I wanted to better understand who I really am and to seek to be the person God created me to be. I am happy to say God has through the power of the Holy Spirit, provided me with some clarity. The best and most important aspect I’ve learned during the past year is, it’s not the resolutions that matter most, it’s the ability to keep moving forward, day by day being as authentic as possible and seeking to live the life I was created to live. Too often people live the life that others want them to live, and as much as children try to be the person their parents dreamed they would be, it’s not authentic if you’re not being true to yourself and God. As you think about 2015, I would challenge you to be authentic and be kind to yourself. Look at 2015 with enthusiasm, look at resolutions as tools that enhance and solidify who you are and what you do. Don’t choose resolutions that concentrate on negativity, rather choose things that you are already doing well and do them better. This world is difficult enough at times, do not believe the lies that say you’re not worthy or good enough. You, my friend are WORTHY, God created YOU on purpose, no mistake! So, what do you say? Will you join me in 2015, as we care for ourselves as well as others with gentle, caring hearts?

My 2015 Resolutions:
Reasonability
Authenticity
Forgiveness
Simplicity
Clarity
Love

Resolution/Synonym=courage
Resolution/Webster=the act of determining

Follow me on Instagram @clarity2014
Follow me on Twitter @Charlot02569289

~Peace Be With You~

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2014 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

A San Francisco cable car holds 60 people. This blog was viewed about 1,100 times in 2014. If it were a cable car, it would take about 18 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report.

I was recently asked by a group of friends from my church to share a short story about someone who has shown me the way to Jesus? I am happy to say, it will not be a short story. As far back as I can remember I have been blessed with knowing amazing women of faith. I began attending church at a very young age and my very first memory of someone sharing Jesus with me was my Sunday school teacher, “Birdie.” Everyone loved her, she loved everyone equally in return. I remember hearing stories from the Bible about Jonah, David & Goliath, Zacchaeus and the sycamore tree, just to list a few. She read stories, lead the children’s choir and always had goodies and snacks. Summers growing up I attended VBS and she would share stories of the Bible and helped us create great craft projects. There are lots of uses for popsicle sticks & glue, and glitter & paper. When I was just starting the seventh grade, I met a lot of new people when my brother and I switched schools, from public to private. My brother made friends easily and his cuteness definitely didn’t hurt him much. I eventually made friends as well, a particular family of three sisters and a brother became close friends of mine as well as my whole family. I became close friends with the middle sister Marcie; our parents didn’t understand why after being in school all day together, our need to be on the telephone after school. Marcie’s family had something I wanted…I just wasn’t at all sure what “it” was exactly. It was something I couldn’t find words to describe right away. Their family was not much different than mine; a mom, dad and kids; they went to church, went to work, and went to school. After some time and reflection, I told my mom that I wanted to talk with the pastor from the church affiliated with the private school my brother and I attended. It was on that night through a conversation with that pastor, I realized it was Jesus I saw in them and that I needed to ask Jesus to save me. God is the Great Creator, He knows our hearts long before we were formed in our mothers wombs. Our lives are not mere chances but part of God’s Divine plan. I thank God for the gift of the Kempf family. I saw Jesus in their lives through their actions, sharing and values. As time past and all our lives changed, we all began chasing after our own dreams. I went off to college and lost contact with lots of people and friends from home. I met lots of new people and tried my best to “fit” in. I met lots of new people during my college days, all made lifelong impressions upon me and as much as I wish I could list them all by name I would inevitably miss someone; however, I would like to briefly mention three very special and dear women that befriended me and to this day I’m not exactly sure why they did, but I am ever so thankful they did. Linda, Margaret and Nancy…all upper class mates to me, here I was a shy, backward, county girl who was as awkward as the day is long to say the least. I loved them like sisters. They gave me something I still have to this very day, “worthiness.” There was nothing to be gained for them by befriending me, but they did. I am grateful for each one of them and through the years we have shared the love of Jesus with one another, we have comforted one another through grief and sickness, and we have cheered and celebrated together. We may be separated by place, time and distance but our friendship and love for one another is ever-present in our hearts and minds. God has continued to bless me over the past several years, I have had the pleasure of meeting three remarkable women ministers. All have motivated and challenged me in different ways over the years since we met, when hearing them speak it ignites a spark within me. They all are vastly different in their approach and delivery of God’s message to the world. One is free and charismatic, one is scholarly and formal while the other is gracious and humble, they all have had a profound influence on me and are sources of great encouragement to me. I continue to seek and to learning what God’s Will is for my life. I know there’s more I can and should be doing. I feel a “calling” of sorts, I strive to share my faith with others through my actions, words, Twitter & Instagram accounts, my blog, and through fellowship with my friends, family, church and my community. I have two additional women who need to be recognized for their contributions, character and influence on me. Without them, I would not be here. These two women were strong, gentle, determined, kind, caring, loving, dependable, respected, admired, and accepting…they are a part of me, I am part of their legacy…my mom and her mom, my grandmother. I have no idea what my legacy will be but my hope is to be remembered as a believer and follower of Jesus, a daughter, a granddaughter and friend.

~Blessings and Peace~

I guess it happens sooner or later to all of us. It’s funny I don’t “feel” old on the inside, although there are signs of aging. Pills for this ache and that pain, stuff to make to go and stuff to make you stop. It becomes a never-ending cycle. I have nothing but the words and spoken experiences from others describing “growing old.” My feelings are mine alone and  as much as I try to empathize with others, there’s no exact sharing of feelings. I am still a daughter, sister, aunt and cousin…I still crave and want love, encouragement and support from my parents. All those feelings came to an abrupt standstill on the day I was told by an emergency technician my mom was gone. Almost instantly everything changed in my life. The sudden loss of my mom left me numb for several months, I immediately stepped into the shoes once worn by my mom, they were big shoes and I tried my very best to fill them. I love my family, perhaps more deeply because of this experience. My sadness is selfish, I miss my Saturday phone calls from my mom, the voice messages saying, “This is your mom, call me.” I miss hugs and kisses, I miss her laughter, I miss her spirit and spunk, her strength, her dedication to her family and friends, her sacrifices for her family, her sense of morality, fairness and commitment. She was not perfect, she was not a saint, she was strong-willed and made no apologies for the things she believed in. I’m selfish because I know that I’ll never celebrate another holiday or birthday with her, I’ll never taste her cooking again, and never hear her say “I love you, Charlotte.” With all that said, I am thankful that she is no longer in pain from working too many hours for way too many years, she is remembered by many and she touched many lives and her character will live on in her legacy. As Thanksgiving is fast approaching, I am thankful for all I have and for the things I no longer have. Loss, though painful is part of the cycle of life. Death, may have taken the body of my mom, but her spirit continues and she lives on in my memories. Grief is a process, so I’ve been told and even read about…my grief is a part of me and we are learning to co-exist with one another. In closing I want to impress upon you that we are all a work-in-progress…I’m still learning and growing, I know God is in me and He has a plan. At this Thanksgiving make a list of things you’re thankful for, I’m sure you will see that you have an abundance! Not perfection, definite blessings!

~Blessings and Peace~

I am thankful for…
Freedom
Clothing
Food
Shelter
Clean drinking water
Electricity
Medication
Job
Health insurance
Family
Friends
Vehicle
Books
Bibles
Computer
Paper
Pens
….you give it a try!

Tenth Avenue Nation has a song titled “No Man is an Island” when I hear it on the radio I see snippet’s of my life as if I’m looking through a viewfinder or watching a slide show. Seeing single moments in time, frame by frame. Life often seems so much clearer when viewed in hindsight with the advantages of time, experience and maturity. One important thing to remember when looking back, do so with mercy and grace most especially because with years gone by one learns bits of wisdom along the way. I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “if only I knew then, what I know now…” I know I have used this saying more than once in my life, but truly the statement holds no truths, we know now because of experiences, time and maturity. The truth for me is my life experiences; the good and the bad, because they have allowed me to learn life lessons and hopefully gained some wisdom along the way. Some of these life lessons took longer to learn than others and some I’m still trying to learn and understand. It can become easy to pass judgment on others when see mistakes others make that we have already experienced and learned from, but this is a dangerous, slippery slope to traverse and one that puffs up our egos and pridefulness.  It is often easier to see the faults in those around us, before we recognize our own due to our pride and conceit. Not one single human being is without sin, God’s Word is very clear that we are not to be a “stumbling block” to others and that God is the one and only true judge. 1 Corinthians 8:9 “Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak.” Romans 14:13 “Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.” Psalm 75:7 “It is God who judges: He brings one down, He exalts another.” He alone knows our hearts, our minds, our actions and our words. We are to help one another, encourage each other and to seek God’s Will. God calls us to be His hands and feet in this world, to show compassion and share His love. Be kind to yourself, seek God and share all with God. He delights in His children. Psalm 149:4 “For the Lord takes delight in his people; He crowns the humble with victory.”

~Peace Be With You~