Category: Uncategorized

February 27

Movin’ up!

There was a blind neighbor next door,

Who made his wife sleep on the floor.

But he never knew,

Not even a clue.

One day she would live on a higher floor.

February 26

There Is Only One Of You

The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy.

I AM has come to abundantly employ.

HE has created you,

And only one of you,

For His good works, girl or boy.

God has created each person with a specific purpose.  It is our greatest pleasure in life to seek God out each day to fulfill His destiny for us.  Nowhere else can you find the acceptance and love we all seek but in Him.

February 25

Won With One

There once was a lady undone,

Her enemy thought he had won.

Steal, kill, destroy,

His weapons of ploy.

To which she will have none.

The danger in truth can be a double edged sword.  I shared with you yesterday the Lord speaking to my slothfulness and how it is brother to one’s own suicide.  IF you listen to the enemy’s voice you easily become prey to beating yourself up over your own slothfulness.  If you do it long enough you may as well commit suicide, not the permanent kind but you know what I mean.  The kind of suicide that kills yours dreams, your goals, your desires.  That’s just what the enemy of your soul wants for you.  John 10:10 says this: ¹⁰ The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it ^[a]overflows). Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) 

What kind of life do I want?  The one the enemy has for me or the one God has for me?  The enemy’s life is easy, takes no effort.  It’s easy to wrap up in the blanket and just stay warm.  The reward, warmth, sleep but not the restful kind.  The abundant life is work. Sometimes hard work, relentless but the reward is far greater.  Oh it may still be a warm blanket but oh the peaceful rest when I have done what I said I would.  I have completed my endeavors. My spirit, soul and body feel free.  That is a great rest.

Don’t let the enemy steal, kill or destroy your rest.  Do now what you are called to do.  Do it now! You won’t feel undone.  You will feel as one because you won with the One.

February 24

The Lull Of Winter

Just when you think February has begun,

But really can’t wait until it’s done.

How did it happen?

Winter is for nappin’.

And now you feel undone.

Winter is almost on its way out.  Well that is what we (maybe just me) tell ourselves as we eagerly await spring.  It seems so hard to live in the moment during the longer winters of New England.  I find myself dreaming of warm weather, longer sunny days and being more productive.  I convinced myself winter could be productive since the pull to be outside isn’t there.  I convinced myself I could wrap myself up in a blanket and just write, write, write.

Well…………

I sleep more.  You might think with the days being shorter on light and going to bed earlier one would feel more rested and naturally be more productive.  NOPE!  It takes more effort for me to stay on task since I literally could stay wrapped in a blanket all winter long.  But that doesn’t make me write more.  I need something else to stimulate me. 

It’s………..

How I think.  My thoughts shape my behavior. Can I think in ways that make me productive? Can I make myself do what I only think about?  What will it take to make the dream really happen even wrapped in my blanket? What thinking needs to shift?

Truth……

The Word of God is truth.  This is found in 2^nd Timothy in the third chapter.

 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

We need to have a firm foundation of truth to build on.  Otherwise we live on shakey ground all our lives.  For me that is necessary since I struggle so often with second guessing most of my decisions.  If I have made the Word of God my truth, my solid foundation, the guiding point of my life then a day when a  particular scripture jumps off the page and whacks me I count it as a privilege that God is talking to me, on purpose.  His voice is as gentle as it is loud.  His correction can be so hurtful that it shakes me from my slumber but if I know God is for me and not against me I must wake up.  Yes God wake me up!

I was reading the book of Proverbs.  Chapter 18.   Certainly a chapter I have read before.  But I was asking Holy Spirit to hear something new, fresh.  He never lets me down when I sincerely ask.  Verse 9 was the loud,, gentle hurtful voice of correction.  Wake up!   It says:  ⁹ He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.

Oh brother.  I already know I can be slothful and waste great time.  Just knowing something does not often make you change your ways.  Loving someone and knowing you are hurting them sometimes isn’t enough either.  What if you are hurting yourself ?  Can you love yourself enough to change?  Is love all you really need?

Let’s look at that same verse, Proverbs 18:9  in the classic amplfied version. Read that one a few times too.  He who is loose and slack in his work is brother to him who is a destroyer and ^[a]he who does not use his endeavors to heal himself is brother to him who commits suicide.  Loose, slack, brother to him who is a destroyer, endeavors not used to heal yourself is committing suicide.  This  really woke me up.

Endeavors means you are attempting to reach a goal.  My goal is to write a limerick every day for an entire year. The deeper goal of that is not just a book, it is a book to heal my poverty mindset.  Every time I let something get in my way from reaching that goal by becoming loose and slack not only have I become a waster of time I commit my own suicide.  I am the one killing myself.  I am the one making myself poor. I am my own brother’s keeper.   Not winter, not weather, not darkness.  Me!  It’s me!

I am undone….

February 23

Family Ties.

There once was a slothful slacker,

Who needed someone to back her.

She wanted to sleep,

More than to reap.

So her brother needed to whack her.

February 22

Imaginations Against True Imagination.

There is a war each day for every thought.

There is a way for the war to be fought.

The weapons are bold,

Not bought with gold.

Casting down imaginations now caught.

A bloody war. A cold war.  An atomic war. A nuclear war. A virtual war.  A chemical war.

We are in a war for our souls.

I have been watching TURN, Washington’s Spies.  After some history exploration it is clear this series has taken several liberties with actual facts but nonetheless it has been a very moving series for me when I think of the sacrifices the men and women of that time gave to give me such a free America. They lost loved ones, land, houses, money, body parts or their own lives. Families were divided from loyalty to England’s King or the freedom they were dreaming of.  Bravery.  Courage.  Discipline. Loyalty.  Do we face such things on a daily basis? I fear we have lived so long with freedom we forget what the cost was that for freedom.

A heavenly war was fought as well.

This war was for eternal freedom and would be for all men.  It was a war against evil and its hold on mankind.  It was against the prince of this world, satan himself. The price was high and  also required blood and sacrifice.  God knew man could not win this war.  HE had to send His son.  Only Jesus, the sinless one could win.  His victory granted us the authority to use the same weapons as Jesus did.

Jesus knew the scriptures. We must as well.  It is our first line of defense along with prayer to fight against the enemy’s stronghold as he tries desperately to overtake our minds.   Scripture tells us in 2 Corinthians 10:4-6 King James Version (KJV):

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

Your most powerful weapon against evil is the word of God. We must know what the word says to fight back.  Has the enemy stolen your mind?  Your children?  Your spouse?  Your goods?

If you don’t know Jesus as Lord and savior and you want to win the battle decide today to be on His side.  Ask Holy Spirit to help you pray this prayer:

Dear Jesus,

I come to you now asking You to forgive me of all my wrongdoings, known and unknown.  Cover my sin by Your precious blood shed on cross of Calvary.  I repent.  Please come live inside my heart and be the Lord of my life today and everyday.  Keep me from the evil one.  In Jesus Name, Amen.

February 21

Laughing Into Clarity.

If you lose your sense of clarity,

Spend a little time in hilarity.

Your brain

Will gain

New thoughts that lead to parity (functional equality)

 Gelotology (from the Greek γέλως gelos “laughter”) is the study of laughter and its effects on the body, from a psychological and physiological perspective. Its proponents often advocate induction of laughter on therapeutic grounds in alternative medicine.

Have you heard of Laughter Yoga?  It’s exercise, deep breathing, emotional release and so much fun all in one.  Our brains react the same regardless of forced laughter or spontaneous laughter.  Laughter yoga uses a forced laughter of ha ha ha, ho, ho ho and he he he.  Often real laughter breaks out from this “forcing” of the yoga laughter producing amazing results.  A few of the psychological results are reduced anxiety and stress, sense of well-being and creative thinking.  Some physiological results are boosting of the immune system, decrease in stress hormones and enhanced mental function.  Pretty impressive.

The founder of laughter yoga is Dr. Madan Kataria.  Check this youtube out at https://youtu.be/QvAkyoA7l4U

Spend three minutes now “pretending” to laugh. Clap your hands while you are laughing. Smile too!  What changes did you notice?  Did your breathing become deeper?  I often yawn which is a good release of carbon dioxide.  Then I feel more awake.

This is a great short talk on Laughter Yoga from Dr. Kataria.  https://youtu.be/5hf2umYCKr8

Laugh everyday, on purpose and for at least 10 minutes. If God laughs so can I.

“God, who sits in Heaven, laughs!” — Psalm 2:4

February 20

What do you wear when you write?

There once was a lady who couldn’t get warm,

She tried wearing more clothes to help her perform.

But the truth had to be bare,

So the readers could hear,

The words of her heart in written form.

February 19

Perfect Fear?

There once was a desire to be perfect,

Always meeting fear at an intersect,

Till one day blindsided,

Crashing they collided.

Now they ride together with introspect.

February 18

The Power Of The Tongue

There once was an unruly tongue.

It grew long when it was young.

But it had to be tamed,

And finally shamed,

By the truth it only spoke dung.