Having Faith

Faith

One definition of Faith is having a firm belief in something for which there is no proof, complete trust.

Faith is being willing to trust God, turning my hopes and problems over to Him and trusting in His wisdom and knowing that everything will turn out for the best.

There are so many little irritations and frustrations in life but they are small and not important. Even the annoying ex-changes with people throughout the day, the runny late moments, worry about getting things done.....It does not have to be major to have faith. Have faith in little and big things knowing they will always turn out. Maybe not in my way. I may not understand the Lord's plan but I can trust Him.

I recall a prayer that I learned when I was twelve when my dad went through re-hab for alcoholism. “ God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”

I can think of several situations where all I could do was to have faith.

1) Several years ago I was in a car accident in Albuquerque NM. I knew the car would hit me and I had no place to go but have the car crash into me and send me spinning out of control. I had to ride it out and pray that my children and I would be alright. Aside from fracturing my knee cap and the kids had a few minor bumps and scratches we were alright.

2) The moment that my ex-husband and I split apart again and this time he was a good distance away. Not close enough to be tempted to fall back on. I had to stand on my own with my decision made and make a fresh start with my three children. I wasn't sure how I was going to take care of us all after being at home for a year babysitting in the home. We lived in a small town and jobs were not easy to find and it took more than one to make things happen. But you know what it was alright. I was alright and my children were alright too.

3) The time when one of a mother's worst nightmares could come true and hurt her daughter and affect her whole family. When I stood and soon began to feel my body slump and go numb and my heart crumble as I came to the realization of the situation. Not wanting to even think of confirming the thoughts in my head and the idea of what all had to be done and dealt with to get my daughter and I through what was yet to come. Once again as much as I hated each moment for so many months we all kept going and going and things were worked out and now are in the past. Faith pulled us all through that and we are thankful for the many blessings that came out of it all in the end.

4) It’s been almost 9 months now since I took a giant leap of Faith and left a little area of TX that I grew quite fond of over the last two years despite the ups and downs that were gone through while living there. I relocated and started a whole new life with my children. I left what I learned was my safe haven. I'm now exploring a new life, a new marriage, a new relationship to nurture with my step son, a new place. I left so many wonderful people that were there for me and my children. The friends I had there could never be replaced. I left all the warm fuzziness behind unsure of the next step but feeling lead to make the change. To keep moving forward knowing eventually things would work out and that there is a reason and purpose behind it as the journey of faith continues. The kids and I are doing quite well and we are happy with our new start.

The roads that you or I travel on are not always easy, nor are they meant to be. I try to remind myself not to look back with dread or regret and to know that it is all in God’s plan. We all need something to hang on to and I choose to have faith.

Faith makes all things possible.

A quote I came across one day:

"When you have come to the edge of all light that you know and are about to drop off into the darkness of the unknown, Faith is knowing one of two things will happen: There will be something solid to stand on or you will be taught to fly."

So I remind myself and encourage you as my friend to take that giant leap of faith it will always work out for our good.

Matthew 17:20

"Because of your faith, " He told them. "For I assure you: If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, "Move from here to there, and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.

New ideas to new beginnings

The title is a bit odd, I know. I'm feeling a little scattered. I have so much in my head that I want to get it all out but just can't. For one thing its hard to focus on just one thought when I look around and then get another thought. There are things around the house I should be doing right now too. The kids are due home soon from school soon.

Mainly I've been thinking about my writing and my last blog. I had a site called Silverwing butterfly, I had the website set up for several long months before I actually posted my first post in March of last year. I struggled with doing a blog at all but decided that it didn't matter what others thought because all I knew is that I loved to write and I had a place to write and share. That blog has been closed now since February. As you can see I've started this one that you are reading. Its not quite the way I want it yet, I'm still learning and playing with all the fun stuff that I can do on it.

My last blog was designed to share and help people out there know that things happen but good comes from it all. So I focused on the negative trials of my life mostly. I have recently posted some of my writings from my last blog but they are on the more upbeat lighter side of life. So the title of this entry really has to do with me re-thinking my writing and posting on my new blog. My new blog has taken on a different angle that I hadn't intentionally planned. In fact I'm so excited about getting started that its made it difficult to get started so today is the day with this new blog to start with new ideas to new beginnings. So I hope you will bare with my ramblings and enjoy getting to know things about me and my thoughts and live, laugh and love with me!

Not sure why I"m making this so difficult, I have kept a written journal on and off since I was twelve. Oh well here I go!

His Grace is daily...

I was in my Ladies Bible study last week and as we were discussing grace and trying to apply it in our daily and everyday little moments of life the thoughts below are what came to me and I wrote them down as I sat there listening.

....day to day
moment to moment
enjoy, cherish, make the most of it
pay close attention to the moment at hand so I can be obedient to God
or to trust Him in the moment or to love in that moment
or to do the right (be Christ like) have the attitude I need
and be in the place I need to be
to continue to have God work in me and share and help others
and lead to kindness and love, trust with my faith through Christ
and His grace that I can have this moment and by His grace
in each moment I choose life or death
will I live in this moment or die?

I choose His loving grace in each moment of my life. I choose to live

Love's Sweetness

Love’s Sweetness……

it places smiles upon frowning faces

it supplies an abundance of joyous laughter

it comforts when you need a hug

it heals when you feel broken

it is tough when you need to learn

it changes you for the better when you need a new direction

it forgives

it grows beyond anything we can see, touch or hold

it shines new light of understanding on the subject at hand

it confronts with care and gentleness

it sends a kind and mindful perspective on your daily dealings in life

it straightens your path when it becomes crooked

it sparkles with truth

it never leaves

it pushes and nudges you so you always know the sweetness is there to be found

it is easy to reach out to

it is warm and tender to always cherish

it always brings you right back to its sweetness

LOVE’S SWEETNESS IS NEVER ENDING

Thank you Jesus for such a sweet everlasting gift, because of this gift we can share this wonderful sweetness with others as you surround your sweet sweet love around us. Thank you

Love is it Magic?

Some say Love isn’t magic!

I ask why not?

If love is not magic then how can you explain what love does?

Magical: Adjectives

supernatural, wonderful, marvelous, unimaginable, astonishing, appealing, magnificent, delightful, divine, glorious, miraculous

What I can remember, at times love works in ways that left me stunned, wondering what just happened.

What I’ve experienced, love has transformed so many ugly things into beauty.

It always seems to make the most out of a not so good moment,

bringing the absolute best out of the darkest situation.

What I’ve noticed, love is always giving even when I’ve stopped receiving.

What I learned, love has been the only answer to seek in the most confusing of times.

Love is the only explanation that sums it all up.

What I have observed, love is the only language that is understood no matter what is being said in a foreign tongue.

It’s the only language that all can connect to despite the differences in front of them.

The last time I checked I have yet to see “love” in the stores to purchase so that means to me that it is priceless and free.

What I have noticed, it is the easiest gift to give when you have nothing else to offer and you never need wrapping paper.

When I feel and witness the glow of love it sends sweetness into the air and glows warm and shines happiness all around, that most that walk by can feel and get an idea of what is going on around them.

So I think with all that said, love is sort of mysterious and very magical.

What do you think?

It’s okay for love to be mysterious and magical. We are not suppose to understand it. We are suppose to enjoy it, and be thankful for it, and share it. But most of all we are to spread it around. Love does good things. God is love. God loves us and he did send his only son for us.

Why wouldn’t we want to call love magic. God’s love is magical. It surrounds us in nature. It mingles in all around us through different people from different places of the world. God is responsible for that glowing warm flutter. We do not find it easy to love at times but eventually we do end up loving others when we don’t understand. God’s work is amazing.

So can love be magical?

Dare to Love

Dare to Love….Its okay love is the way to go

I found this quote one day and I really like it. “Live it with faith, share it with hope, demonstrate it with love.” Love is really the greatest gift you can give “spread it, share it, be it, where you are and yours will be a light that can truly light the world.”

“treat everyone with love, kindness and patience-be grateful you will be blessed.”

The power of love will take you much farther than_______ (you can fill in the blank) No matter ones views on love, love is the souls “food” and everyone needs love.

“Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.” 1 Corinthian 13: 7-8

Do the opposite of what your “enemy” would expect—love them! You know the saying “kill him with kindness” well what about “kill him with love“. Love is the most rewarding, peaceful feeling that you can have. It leads you to have patience, kindness, trust, compassion, understanding, slow to respond negative and forgiveness.

Love is simple its a choice you choose to do. Love doesn’t hurt. Love helps you to grow and learn and gives you strength. If you fear love and stop loving you are only hurting yourself. Love leads to so many joys –a special mate, children, friendships and other relationships.

Love leads to lessons in life…..you can learn from a negative situation and still love. We all have had ups and downs with love. We are crushed when something bad happens. We are happy when things all work out. But no matter the up or the down we need to hold strong to the love and know that it’s all good, it all works as it should.

We survive through the down moment. We do learn something to take out of the down moment. We rejoice in the good and we move on. What situation can you think of in your life?

I can think of a few—My parents divorced when I was in my twenties. They get along better than they did before-I have my parents still and I love them. I also have another person to know and love in my life and that is my step dad.

I divorced back in 2006 and things haven’t been very smooth. But I know I can do anything I put my mind too. I have three beautiful children to care for and love. I loved my ex-husband to marry and start a family. I love him now despite the bumps. If it wasn’t for that love I would not have my three beautiful children today.

I was in a relationship last August, thought it was the best. My answer to my prayer so to speak. I fell hard in love and trusted completely. He ended up turning my world upside down. I never would have guessed that my children and family and I would have to endure such an event. But we made it through it. There were lessons learned too. But through it all I had love then and I still have love now.

Will I repeat the love and trust in others…despite the up moments and the down moments…Yes without a doubt.

LOVE. DARE TO LOVE...it’s okay
love is the way to go

In loving memory....

I started my day like any other day of the week, waking up the kids and getting them out the door on their way to school. I continued about the day doing things that needed to be done around the house but in the background were thoughts of my grandmother. Last year on this day she died peacefully in her sleep. The kids and I had just gotten into town the night before and we got up to start our day with my mom going to Walmart. Our plan was to do some shopping then head over to my grandmother's house to visit with her. My mom and I were standing in an aisle looking at things when my phone rang and it was my dad. His voice sounded strange, he asked for my mom and I knew something was wrong. She finished talking to my dad and said that we had to leave now. She pulled me off to the side and told me that my dad went to check on my grandmother and found that she had peacefully drifted off to heaven.

So in memory of her it is appropriate that I start off my new blog with a prayer that I found and read at her funeral last year. This is the perfect intro to start off with the many changes that have gone on in my life to bring me to this point to start sharing with you the many blessings that I am very thankful to have received.

Lord,

Bless me with the ability of a butterfly to endure the changes that will happen to me in my lifetimes.

Help me to accept these changes with a positive and loving attitude.

Bless me with the beauty of a butterfly to allow me to reflect the colors of my soul, being and individuality,

and to look for these things in others.

Bless me with the ability of a butterfly to create and instill the feeling of wonder, passion, and excitement towards all of your living creatures.

Bless me with the butterflies’ ability to pollinate your flowers, so that I may cultivate your human garden with love and compassion.

Last, but not least, Lord

Bless me with the grace of ascension, so that I may ascent into your glorious heaven like a rising butterfly,

when my journey here on earth is complete.

Amen

(J. Dilts/1999)

Nana I love you