Angelic

Having difficulty falling asleep last night. So much on my mind - some good and some sad - and trying to take the thoughts captive.
Since I was awake, I lay in bed with the lights off and played the card game of hearts on my I-phone. Then I decided to try to sleep and turned off the game, I laid my phone on the side table and, with my eyes opened, stared at the ceiling. The light of the phone went off and the room was dark.
Suddenly, the light went back on.
"Who would call me - or text me - at this hour?" I thought, as I reached for it.
There was no call or text coming in, but the phone was lit up by the IPOD app. I looked at it again and it was ready to play a song - I had pushed nothing to get to the song, but did push the triangle to play the illuminated song.
"Crown Him With Many Crowns" played softly from my I-phone.
I cried as I remembered how amazing and big Our God is - and how I need to bow at His feet.
"What crown was I trying to wear by fretting?"
I put down the phone when it finished and lay in the dark for a while.
"Where did that song come from?" I wondered.
So, I searched on the IPOD app - and could only find it by pushing several buttons like "songs" and then searching under the "C's" for the title.
Since it was not easy to find, I wondered how it showed up so clearly and quickly a half hour ago.
Then, I decided - it was a gift from a messenger of God. It comforted me and put things in perspective so I could sleep. I pray it blesses you if you can't sleep.

Crown Him with many crowns, the Lamb upon His throne.
Hark! How the heavenly anthem drowns all music but its own.
Awake, my soul, and sing of Him who died for thee,
And hail Him as thy matchless King through all eternity.

Lost and Found

It was a surprise to look at my ring finger and notice no center diamond! The rest of the ring was intact, but the prongs that held the center stone were standing straight up in the air - empty in their presentation.
I vacuumed the entire home - checking the bag for any sign of a small shiny object - to no avail.
Besides carefully vacuuming, I wiped all of the rest of the floors on my hands and knees - searching for any sign of this precious stone - again - to no avail.
My ring remained empty - showcasing the loss of a precious sentimental diamond.
Two weeks later, on an average morning, I hurriedly stepped toward the refrigerator and - WAIT - I felt something through my sock as I stepped. STOP!
I did.
As I turned around and bent down to pick up whatever crumb I had missed in my cleaning attempt the day before, I gasped.
Then, I gently picked up my diamond and watched it, as it rolled around in my hand - playfully glistening as the kitchen light reflected some of its glory.
How did it turn up weeks after my search - in the middle of a floor that I had wiped many times searching for it?
Only by the grace of God. He gave me back my precious stone and it remained a symbol of my engagement and marriage for many more years.
I am so grateful that God alone knows where everything is - and how precious it is to us - even when it seems lost.
Enjoy your lost and found - enjoy Our Lord - the giver of all good gifts. :)

A Kiss

I was walking down a long hallway with a friend. The hallway was well lit - it had a lot of windows and was washed in light.
I passed three gentlemen, heads bowed together in prayer. After passing them, I realized that one of them was David. I stopped as my friend continued down the hallway. I turned around and waited. The prayer finished and one of the men walked to the left as the second man walked to the right and I approached David. As I put my arms around his neck for a hug, he simply smiled as his arms embraced me. And then, we kissed.
It was not a long kiss, but very familiar.
"I remember that kiss" I said as I gently smiled. A twinkle lingered in his eyes.
And, suddenly, the dream was over and I awoke.
But, it was long enough. Long enough to remind me of an amazing, tender, whimsical man's love - and to appreciate enjoying him, even if only in a dream.
Enjoy your dreams :)

Fun For You!

So, what is it? What is it that makes your spirit soar - your insides smile while your outside beams?
I call it fun. And, I have found a key to fun in my life. Dancing. Moving to music - usually in a quick beat - mouthing words to a song and jumping around on the floor in some sort of rythym - FUN.
Now, that may not be fun for you. You may like another form of smiles - but I just want to encourage you to have fun.
When I was growing up, expressions like "act your age" stymied me - caused me to think before enjoying myself - "Was what I was about to participate in age appropriate?"
Cartwheels and handstands were given over to an appropriate age -
But, not any more. Now, I don't know if I can still do a cartwheel or handstand very well - but I may try as soon as the green grass is soft for a landing.
For today, though, I do know that when I dance, my spiritual, physical, mental and emotional being receives a burst of joy.
So, I will continue because I think that means God created me that way.
Here is a toast to you - and whatever you enjoy - may you participate in it fully and may your physical, emotional, mental and spiritual being receive bursts of joy :)
Have a blessed day!

Reading

I love to tell stories. How much fun is it to enjoy a good story with a happy ending?
Now, the Bible is so full of so many stories, my favorite being about Our Lord and Savior paying the price for us to be righteous before His and Our Father. Sweet!
But, I learned a new one today.
Now, I have read the Bible a lot and it never ceases to amaze me. How can I read a verse and learn something new - when I know I have read it before?
Boaz is a sweet character in the Bible - he married Ruth - who the book of Ruth is named after. I have always loved the book of Ruth and would sometimes call David "Boaz" :)
Boaz married Ruth and they were used by God in the lineage of Jesus Christ.
Today, I found out who Boaz' Mom was - and to think that she was a harlot before being spared by Joshua and then marrying an Israelite, Salmon.
WOW - amazing how God put that together.
Joshua sent spies to Jericho, (before the walls fell down) and Hagar, the harlot, hid the spies from her townspeople. They promised her refuge when the city fell - gave it to her and she remained alive and well - along with all members of her family - when everyone else in Jericho lost their lives.
So, before a harlot - then, redeemed by God's people - and given a place in history of importance (see the first chapter of Matthew).
I am so grateful that no matter what our past involved, once we come to The LORD, He can make something beautiful out of our lives.
Amazing!
Now, you Bible scholars, feel free to correct me - but I do like what I think I learned :)
Enjoy your reading!!

Gratitude

Have you ever cried tears of gratitude? What a wonderful gift God has given us in life - and the wonderful people we are able to celebrate it with.
I am so grateful that God chose this century for me to live - so grateful for the lives He has poured into my life - people I call family, friends, neighbors, teachers, etc.
So grateful.
Sometimes, I look at a picture of some people in my life and cry - just cry with tears of gratitude that I get to be associated with the people in the photo.
May we all enjoy who we spend time with each day - through relationships on the phone, in person, in writing or in memory - and remember that they are a gift from God.
What an amazing God we serve.
May Jesus' gift of life be appreciated :)

Wham?

Well, we can just go about our day and - wham - there it is - a memory that takes us someplace else. Now, I was in a good place - even though I made mistakes today, I was able to live with them and believe God was teaching me something that I would eventually learn.
Then, deciding to hang pictures on a different wall - there it is. A wedding photograph. Now, there are very sweet photos I am blessed to own. Very Sweet. I am grateful for every photograph.
But, why, when I focused on my wedding photograph from 1995 - why did the thought enter my mind to take a hammer and break the glass?
Where do those type of thoughts come from?
Wow - taking every thought captive - yes, that is what The Bible asks us to do - and make it obedient to Jesus Christ -
Now, I know that breaking the glass is not obedient to Jesus Christ.
So, as I try to hang the picture, I thank God that I ever got the chance to spend time with this wonderful man that I was married to - and I softly place the picture on its nail with a gentle hand.
Taking every thought captive and making it obedient to Jesus Christ.
A much sweeter life :)