A Heart at Peace

Today was not a day I was looking forward to

I've had a migraine for two days AND

The entire pool cleaning system

Needed to be Cleaned

WHAT?

Yes,

Internal parts, filters, baskets, and salt cell

All needed to be removed from their homes

And receive a heavy-duty cleaning

Each part removed

All eight (8) filters ready for their showers

 

This used to be a job I rather enjoyed

Spending a couple of hours

Hanging out with my husband

Talking, laughing and enjoying each others company

Now, It's just another chore

One that takes several hours and lots of physical labor

Yet, it is also a quiet time for my heart

To listen and hear the Lord

And that is what happened today

 

The past month has been tough for me

My son was in the hospital with a severe injury

Two days later we left on a Much Needed and Very Over due vacation

That was fun but over 2000 miles of driving

The following week we had company arrive from California

My heart felt heavy and rushed to accomplish things 

From my 'To Do" List

But today the Lord reminded me 

That, just as the internal parts of the pool cleaning system need to be cleaned

So do my internal parts, especially my heart

The internal parts are what make the pool inviting

Pleasing to swim in, look at and relax by

 Therefore they need to be in excellent working order

The same is true for our hearts

When our insides (hearts, spirit, soul) are in good working order

We are pleasing to others

When our hearts are weary, frustrated, and overwhelmed

We put off an unpleasant aura 

When I came in from working on cleaning the pool system

I opened my Bible to this verse.

"A Heart at Peace Gives Life to the Body"

Proverbs 14:30

Oh how I needed this reminder today

The pool system has been cleaned and 

All parts have been returned to their homes

But more importantly

My heart has been reminded of it's own need for cleaning

Through God's Word and spending time with Him

Tonight,

I have a Heart At Peace

I pray you do too!!!

My One Word - HEALTH

The choice of 'My One Word' does not usually come without much prayer and listening for God's voice. Yet, as 2013 was coming to a close, the Lord kept placing one word in my heart: "Health". Oh great, I thought, yes I know I need to lose weight but really, that's the word for the year?

Well, let's just see what 'Health' really implies for my life as we move into 2014.

SPIRITUALLY

"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another and all the more as you see the Day approaching." Hebrews 10:23-25

Oh, how these verses have spoken to my unhealthy spiritual reality. You see, I have 'been in the habit' of not meeting together with other believers. It was only supposed to be a couple of weeks to refresh and regroup.  However, those 2 weeks became 2 months and then 1 1/2 years. It became a 'habit' to not attend church. In doing so, my spiritual health has deteriorated and I've become weak as a believer and as a child of the king.  The passion and fire that used to burn and spur me on to encourage others has diminished, faded and all but burned out.

As the Lord began to speak 'health' into my spirit, it was only a short time before I realized the vastness of what He was speaking to me. Before physical health can be achieved, spiritual health must be restored. That is where the Lord has asked me to focus during the beginning of this new year.

Several years ago I wrote a sermon that I shared with a large group of women, it was entitled: 'Does your soul prosper'.  At that time, my soul was Very prosperous, however, these days, I must say, no, my soul is not very prosperous. Of course there is a lot to that sermon that I am unable to share here but just know, this has nothing to do with tangible prosperity! But it has Everything to do with the peace of God that only comes from a continuing, on going, daily relationship with the One True God!!

In this new year God is calling His people to Relationship! Our vertical relationship is the most valuable and important of all. It is the foundation of all relationships.  But He is also calling us to horizontal relationships that are based and grounded on our relationship with Him. This is where I have struggled since my husband passed away. So much in life changes when you lose half of yourself after a 30 year marriage. Relationships all change, people move on with their couple friends, you don't 'fit' in any more with them. You haven't had 'single' relationships and don't want to fit in there. It seems there is no place for the newly widowed within the church family and you find yourself pulling yourself away into a solitary and protective existence. You don't realize how unhealthy it is, you just need to feel safe.

Hence, the non-scriptural lifestyle I have become accustom to. Therein lies My One Word! Health!!

It begins today with a focus on my Spiritual Health and will proceed, in God's Timing, with:

FINANCIAL

EMOTIONAL

PHYSICAL

May 2014 bring you all that God has placed in your heart. May your desires be ignited by His Word! May you be blessed beyond earthly measure and May God be Glorified in All You Are!!!
 

Joy #19 #20 #21 #22 SENSES

 

You may ask yourself

What happened to Cindy's

Joy Posts?

 

Well, once in awhile

I go through a little 'funk'

 

Like this week

 

Coming up on the Holiday season

Is challenging when you spouse

Passed away on Christmas Eve

And his birthday is New Year's Eve

 

I'm better now

Just had a few low days

So here are my JOY's

 

 

 

I am SO Thankful for our senses

I think of people around me

Who are unable to hear or see or even taste

 

At 55 I am grateful to still have the ability

To do all 5

 

I was sitting in the backyard yesterday

Watching and listening to my youngest

Granddaughters play

I cannot imagine not having that Blessing

 

It filled my heart with SO my JOY

I decided not to share photos of them

But just a photo of the senses

We are blessed with

 

That is my JOY

Please pray for others who have lost senses

Do you know that cancer patients can lose

The sense of smell and taste

Many with diabetes lose the sense of sight

Many in our world don't have the ability to hear

And what about folks who are amputees

They have lost the ability to HUG

 

Count your blessings today

If you are able to

See, Hear, Smell, Taste and Touch

 

My JOY

Senses!!!!



JOY #17 Open Doors

 Although the photo below is NOT my home

I am thankful today and find Joy in

Open Doors

As many across our world 

Have faced weather related tragedies over the past several days

I am thankful that I can open my doors

And enjoy a bit of cooler air

Arizona is a land of deserts and extreme heat in the summer

We live with doors closed

Air conditioners running

And very seldom spend any time outside

For several months of the year

This is the time of year

We can open our doors and enjoy

My heart goes out to those

Whom today

Have lost the door to open

To those whose homes have been destroyed by tornado's

I am lifting you up and praying that God will comfort you

That God will provide your every need

That neighbors and friends far and near

Will reach out to you with compassion and love

In some way, I pray that the weather events

Of the past week or so 

Will be Open Doors for all of us 

To step through and Minister in some small way

To those hurting around us

Is there an open door that you need to walk through

Literally or figuratively 

I ask you to seek the Lord tonight

Ask what opportunity He has set before you

What door has He opened

For YOU to walk through

Enjoy the breeze of the literal open door

But also enjoy the Challenge of the figurative

Open Door that God has placed in front of you this day

God Bless 

JOY #17 Open Doors

JOY #15 God's Word

I chose God's Word

As my Joy for the center of this 

Thankful Month

Because God and His Word

Must be the Center of my Life

I am Nothing without the Lord

Many folks believe that

Psalm 118:8

Is the center of the Bible

Some believe it is Psalm 117

I do not claim to be a theologian

Nor have I ever sat down to count

Chapters and do the math

So, for today

I captured Both verses

I will however focus on Psalm 118:8

"It is better to take refuge in the Lord

Thank to trust in man".

The Lord and His Word

Are my refuge, my strong tower and

My complete Center

When all else falls apart around me

I KNOW where I can find my Peace

My stabilizing force, My Rock

My JOY #15

GOD'S WORD

 

JOY #4 Blessings Unknown

As I think about the things I am thankful for

During this month of Thanksgiving

I am reminded about the blessings unknown

What do I mean?

Well, in recent weeks I have had numerous things

Happen that have caused me to ask God - WHY?

Not necessarily why me but just Why?

I wonder why the refrigerator is broken

Why the ceiling collapsed in the garage

Why do I need to put new tires on my car

Why are there so many huge expenses I am facing

Why have I needed to go through so many medical tests

Why is my mom struggling so much with health issues

How am I going to afford new flooring in the bedroom since the carpet is now gone

Why do I feel the timing for my long awaited and desperately needed trip is so bad

The list goes on and on

Yet, in the midst of so many questions

The Lord has spoken to my heart 

I wonder how many times He has blessed my life because of the No's

How many times have I had my life spared 

Because I hit all the red lights on my way to an appointment

I'm awed because many times God uses the 'trials'

In my life to protect me from something much more complicated or serious

Are you following my drift?

I am SO grateful for all of the 

Blessings God has bestowed into my life

All the while I didn't even know it

I wonder how many times God has protected my home

And family from a burglar

Recently a neighbor's home was burglarized

Could it have been mine

Did God protect us from harm that night

I wonder about the night my next door neighbor's house caught fire

Had God sent that stranger down our street to spot the fire

Just to protect our home

When I get that unsettled feeling in my gut

That tells me to do something other than what I have planned

How often is that God's blessing unknown

Maybe the timing for my trip is bad

Maybe the influx of break downs around my home

Is the protection I need to keep me from taking a trip

That is not in God's perfect plan or timing

So, Tonight

I am Thankful for the Blessings Unknown

The times when God protects and provides

Unbeknownst to me

JOY #4 

Blessings Unknown

 

Source

Wednesday Word

Tonight's Word is Hard

"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, 

just as in Christ God forgave you." Ephesians 4:32

"Do not let the sun go down on your anger."  Ephesians 4:26b

Life is so terribly fragile

I work very hard to live in harmony and grace with others

Especially since losing my Mark

Today has become just one more reminder of this fact

Friends whom I love

Lost their son this morning

Unexpected

Shocked

Heart Breaking

Pain

Sickening 

Gut-Wrenchingly Painful

Please friends

Read God's Words

We never know what the next moment will hold

Please do not hold anger or bitterness 

Please make amends with those whom have hurt you

Find peace with those you have hurt

Don't let one more day end

Without forgiving or seeking forgiveness

Tomorrow may be too late

Let's make a point friends

Live the Character of Christ

Love, Forgive, Be a Peace Maker

Reach out.......

Don't wait in bitterness or self pity

No Regrets

Reach out Now........

 

Wednesday Word

Are you facing a situation that the enemy

Is using to fill your heart with fear?

 I am facing just such a situation...

"Do NOT Fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, 

for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you;

 I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

 Isaiah 41:10

Yet, the Lord reminds us of His promise!

He Is Here!!!

Hallelujah!!!

If you are facing something 

I would love to pray for you

Please leave a comment

Or send a private message

cain4him@hotmail.com

Love to you all!!

Wednesday Word

Here is today's word of 

Encouragement and Thankfulness

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.  Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Colossians 3:16-17

When you work

When you cook

When you clean

When you pick up after your 

spouse or the children

When you shop

When you teach

When to nurture

When you ........

Whatever you do

Whenever you do it

Do it as unto the Lord

It will make a WORLD of difference 

In your attitude

You will find Joy and Peace

You will be Blessed

And,

You will become a Blessing!

The Denominator ... NO

Purpose, Dream, Goal, Reason, Point, Wish, Project, Plan: 

What is the missing common denominator??

Your answers were Awesome and True in almost All Cases

Not so sure about the Caffeine and Coffee :)

A couple were Excellent and very thought provoking to me

Especially this one:

AK (wrote) Things that we should be doing together

We cannot succeed in life alone we must work together and share these things

Scripture does teach us that we are not to try and do this life alone

We, most importantly, need GOD and a personal relationship with Him

Secondly, we do need others, family, friends, co-workers, fellow Christians and people in our lives to help keep us accountable, keep us growing and be encouragements to each other.

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love, and good deeds.  Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching."  Hebrews 10:24-25

Source
 

These are important aspects of our Purpose in this Life!!

Yet, I have failed and succumbed to the evil of clinical/chemical depression
After my husband passed away, I tried to become involved in ministry again (after taking a break while caring for him), I attempted to participate within the boundaries and guidelines of church rules, and the idealistic 'image' that some people think we need.  After 16 months of offering to try it 'mans' way, I gave up, closed the doors on that part of life and have become a semi-hermit.

So, how does No become the common denominator with the words above?
For the past 18 months I have closed myself off to most everybody with the exception of family and an occasional outing with a friend. I have turned my mind off to ministry in any form. When you have been told (numerous times) that you are not 'good enough', there comes a time you begin to believe it and Live It!!!  That is my failure and my sin! That is why NO, becomes the common denominator in those words.

I have learned to believe that I have No purpose, No dream, No goal, No reason, No point, No wish, No project, and No plan!!!  

NOW...
Understanding God's Truth
I Know that is a lie from the enemy
And I know that chemical depression can do that to your mind

The honest truth is though
I have embraced those Lies and now it is time to Turn from my sinful ways and attempt to begin living in the truth of God's Word Again...the way it should be.

And AK, you are correct; we cannot do this life alone, not without each other and most definitely not without God!!!

Thank you for letting me open my heart and share my struggles.
If we would do it more often, we could learn to love each other in spite of our differences and the world could be a happier place~

Bless you all
Good Night!!!

P.S. - AK, because you led me to this post, if you would like the gift card, please private message me your address and I will send it to you:)

Wednesday Word

 

 

 

Forgiveness

 

 



 

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”  Luke 23:34

 

Isn't is easy to forgive someone when they did not purposely intend to hurt you. Maybe a friend said something that hurt your feelings but they truly did not mean to hurt you. Or, a child accidently breaks you favorite vase, you are disappointed but you easily forgive because it was an accident and you love them.

 

Father, help me to forgive when (whomever) really didn't mean to hurt me.  Father, I forgive them because they really didn't realize they did something wrong or hurtful.

 

Those are simple acts of forgiveness.

 

Yet, what happens when you are purposefully and intentionally hurt, betrayed or abused and the person is not remorseful?

 

Say a friend purposefully betrays a confidence, or a spouse intentionally calls you horrible names in front of 'the guys', or a family member physically abuses you. What do you do in those cases?

 

Do you have to forgive that offense?

 

Are we required to forgive?

 

 Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”  Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.  Matthew 18:21-22

Ouch Friends...

 

Yes, in our most painful moments, when someone has purposefully, intentionally, and even repeatedly choses to hurt us, betray us or even abuse us, we are instructed to forgive.

 

Father, not if, but when these hurts happen, work in my heart to not only forgive, but to see the offender with your eyes. Hold me accountable to your word and you truth. Amen!