FREEDOM TO BE WHO I TRULY AM

For those who know me well, you know I don't put on pretenses. I am who I say I am. I am also a person who wants to have the freedom to be who I truly am without judgment. There are times when I want my own personal space and for the most part, people around me respect that. No one wants to have to endure judgment and criticism from somebody else who is constantly trying to make them into someone they want them to be.

Well we all know “that” person...that one person that just rubs us the wrong way. They are always saying the wrong things at the wrong time or telling untruths about someone (or even you) and it can really put a damper on your day and REALLY grate on your nerves. There are even times when people can rob years of our joy. These people may be able to attempt to ruin your day, but it is entirely up to you as to whether or not you let them. We need to give these things over to God and know that when we have done all we can and leave the rest up to Him. Forgiveness doesn't always mean reconciliation. If we have tried to restore a relationship, and the other party is not willing, that is their part, not yours. Forgiveness is a one way street. Forgiveness does not always mean that reconciliation will follow.

I also believe that there are times when it is fitting to distance ourselves from these type of toxic people, even if they are family. I am not going to sugar coat it, with some people, low dosage is the key! Some people may bring us down so much, that maybe we should not even be around them. If you have to absolutely be around them, try and make it brief. You don’t have to be rude, but yes, keep it short.

Life is brief and uncertain at best and quite frankly I am not willing to let people steal my joy! Our joy shouldn’t be dependent upon our circumstances, but on Him. And He never fails us so SMILE! :)

Don't let anyone steal your joy! Christ has given us every reason to be filled with the joy of the Lord. Go out with joy and be led forth with peace.

Let the joy of the Lord be your strength.

MY FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN.....

My sister-in-law and I were discussing the saying we have heard many people say, "God won't give you more than you can bear or handle." I have heard this quote referred to from time to time and I have probably said it before as well. The verse in question, 1 Corinthians 10:13, does not imply that God won’t let you be stressed beyond what you can bear or even challenged beyond your ability or even pushed beyond your threshold.

In reality, God gives you more than you can bear all the time. On purpose. It is only when you cannot bear the load that the strength of Christ kicks in…and He becomes everything you need and more and that is where the lesson kicks in! It is up to us to apply the teaching! :)

Friday I witnessed my oldest brother suffer from a diabetic coma, for the second time in less than four months. This time around though, he was in great pain and not just in a comatose state. This time, I thought for sure we were going to lose him. I was devastated and beyond upset and cried and begged the nurse and my Dad to sedate him (even more) so that he didn’t suffer or feel the pain. They obviously knew more than me and told me that they couldn’t sedate him because he needed to wake up and be alert. Not more groggy or sluggish.

When I got home, Kevin and I decided to take Remy for a walk and as we were walking I was praying for peace about my brother. God never will forsake you or leave you, especially when you need Him the most. As we came up over the hill and looked down towards our house, there it was. A rainbow. Something God has shown me many times in my times of grief or sorrow.

The rainbow has become a symbol of peace and a sign of communication between my FATHER and me. I sobbed harded than I had in years. God loves US! He wants us to know He has never ever left our side. He will be there to give us that “peace” if we only allow Him to.

So next time you feel you cannot possibly bear or handle the situation you are in, look up. God is waiting for you to give Him control. He is waiting…… :)

ANOTHER LESSON IN LIFE

The truth is rarely pure and never simple.--Oscar Wilde

Many of us know a person that we question and wonder if they are manipulative. I have always been an extremely strong and independent woman and very perceptive of others. So I guess it came as no surprise the other day when I found out that several people I knew and respected have been deceitful and have lied to me. In fact, I believe these individuals have always been masters at lying and manipulating others just to get what they “want” regardless of who they hurt in the process, including their spouses and even children.

My thoughts are if you have to deal with someone like this, move on. Don't try and catch them in a lie or try to rationalize with them. Dealing with a liar is a no-win situation. You will be the only one who gets burned if you deal with them. The only thing you can do is pray for them and their souls and simply walk away from their situation.

Look as a Christian, I know that Christians are not perfect people. We make mistakes and make bad decisions at times. But we don’t go around initially trying to destroy others for the sake of our own “passion” or fulfillment. Trust me, none of us will ever be perfect in this world. We just need to do the best we can and ask God to help us with our shortcomings and failings. I confess and ask forgiveness each day because I know I am not perfect, not a by a long shot. BUT I will tell you this, I am a woman of faith and I would never personally seek to destroy anyone for my own personal gain.

The most manipulative people on this earth are those who do things for their own glory. Not God’s glory, but their own. If a person is looking for praise every time they do something nice than that is a serious red flag.

My thoughts today are if you have a bad feeling about someone then usually your “instincts” are usually God telling you something. Warning you that something isn’t right. God expects us to pray for others, He doesn’t tell us to partake in their sin.

God Bless.

SUNSHINE AND SUMMERTIME LIVING

The word home causes all sorts of emotions and thoughts. They range from positive to negative, depending on one's experience. When I think of home I think of a place where I feel safe and secure to pour out my heart, a place where I feel a sense of belonging, and where I connect with those I love. Where family and friends can come over and enjoy the serenity that it brings.

This summer we have had the pleasure of having my 16 year old niece stay with us. It has been a tad bit different having a girl in the house. As you all know I have a 23 year old son and girls and boys are totally different. :) Scott is more serious but has a wicked sense of humor, whereas Brittany giggles all the time. She is full of joy and makes me smile non-stop!

During the summer months, we hope to instill some values not just by talking to her but by our example. Just watching our lifestyle and learning and understanding our values, I hope she walks away knowing how much we love her and that we will always be here to support her.

At her young age, everyday life often feels similar to a pendulum swinging between adulthood and adolescence, yet she seems to capture the beauty in just about everything she does. Whether we are walking the dog or running yet another 3 miles, she is always fun-loving, bright and cheerful. And she always greets me at the door with a huge bear hug! Aaah the simple things in life! :)

I hope that she always feels like our home is her home and comes back to visit in the years to come as she grows and becomes the successful beautiful and caring woman that God intended her to be.