If You Ever Find My Phone

IF YOU EVER FIND MY PHONE

If you ever find my phone, you will see all the pictures I’ve taken in the past few months.

They will show the beauty, the detail, the moment, the color, the morning, the evening, the sky, the sea, the tree, the leaf, the moose, the bear, the rabbit, the flower, the people with me, all the life around me.

But, it will never show my storms, my waves, my turmoil, my pain, my tears, my sadness, my sleepless nights, those are not the things I chose to focus on.

Yet, those experiences are what move me to take the picture of what is right before me as I hold on for dear life to the purpose of living with hope, by faith and in love.

My life is a well of emotions which helps me to pull from to write, to share, to connect with others and those whom I may not physically touch, yet understand by our similar thoughts, emotions and unspoken circumstances.

We all have wild waves to survive. Maybe even ride out in this very moment. If we do ride our waves out, survive their overwhelming power, they will push us to solid ground.

Then, we can give an encouraging word to the ones still out at sea. Give a hand to the ones that got washed from the sea. Help others walk on the solid ground we are now walking on.

Let’s be compassionate to those around us who are drowning, tumbling, and sinking.

May they sense the hope we have in God; see our faith in our Savior and Lord, Jesus in us; and feel the love of God for humanity through us.

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Pain Is Not Only Caused by Thorns

Pain will always be. The caused from the pain could be avoidable. But when love is involved, it may be more challenging to slide pass the pain. It can be managed with the correct dosage of relief.

Love will always bloom. It’s the caused of hearts admirations who may not always be suitable and avoided, yet the heart wants. It can blossom with much sacrifice, heartfelt dedication and caring fertilization, but it requires work form both individuals.

Pain comes from grasping what the heart wants, the flower.

“No one can say, “He jests at scars who never felt a wound,” for I have never got one moment been in a state of mind to which even the imagination of serious pain was less than intolerable. If any man is safe from the danger of under-estimating this adversary, I am that man. I must add, too, that the only purpose of the book is to solve the intellectual problem raised by suffering; for the far higher task of teaching fortitude and patience I was never fool enough to suppose myself qualified, not have I anything offer my readers except my condition that when pain is to be borne, a little courage helps more than much knowledge, a little human sympathy more than much courage, and the least tincture the love of God more than all.” From “The Problem of Pain” C. S. Lewis

Pain comes from suffering, discomfort, injury and wounds which are not only caused by the thorns of living, but by embracing what or whom one loves.

Even in love, pain can only be bared for so long before it cripples the heart, effecting the mind and in-prisoning the spirit. It is then when one can chose to act lovingly because it’s the right thing to do. While one lives experiencing hurtful thorns in the relationship, they may continue to accomplish what must get done as their spirit becomes fragile in a mindset of unworthiness out of duty and not so much out of love. One then exist in a mental cell, never living free to truly grasp the fullness of loving unconditionally.

What once was spontaneous romance, it becomes an expected reaction. What once was adoration, it becomes sights of hateful humiliation. What once was a breath of fresh intimacy, it becomes a toxic act of selfishness.

The blooming flower of any abusive relationship will wither at the edges. Soon the peddles of happiness vanish to not be felt again. What once was to be forever will frail apart, for the heart was never free to flourish, expand and grow into a mature love while romancing another’s heart.

What imprisons a soul is not always what one has done wrong, but what wrong has been done to the one with the caged up spirit.

How can one heal from such pain, abuse, circumstances?

First one must be freed. This freedom is not only physical, it is also spiritual. Both may be needed in order to feel safe. Through the help of a godly counsel, a person who is equipped with godly truths, the captive can hear words of healing. Even though the advice may bring further pain.

To heal a broken bone, more often than not surgery is a must. It is also true of a healing broken heart. Pain can cure pain. Managed pain can be a cure for unmanaged pain.

The ones who have been locked up by tormenting verbal abuse, threats of fearful actions, belittlement of their essence, physical scars of unspeakable tortures and reoccurring nightmares of past experiences need more than a therapist, they need a Savior. They need someone with the good news and the Spirit of the Lord God on them.

“The Spirit of the Lord God is on me, because the Lord has chosen me to bring good news to poor people. He has sent me to heal those with a sad heart. He has sent me to tell those who are being held and those in prison that they can go free.” Isaiah 61:1 NLT

Once the person has been spiritually freed then one can take the words of C. S. Lewis and meditate with much prayer to see how they can be apply to their hurting soul.

“It will take a little courage more than knowledge.” Within this little courage fear will exist.

“It will take a little human sympathy more than much courage.” With the little sympathy heart’s warm is felt.

“And the least tincture of the love of God more than all.” With the least bit of God’s love an overwhelming freedom appears.

Where can an impressoned soul get a little courage, a little human sympathy and a slight trace of the love of God? From the person the Lord has chosen to bring His good news.

The Lord will give the person’s sad heart joy, free to learn to love again and live a life of possibilities. Once the captive sees and accepts the Lord’s hand, the messenger must tell the one being held in hellish circumstance, that they can walk out and be free.

Once freed, there is where the healing begins. It will not be fast. One will be needing spiritual therapy. Continual mentoring exercises. With well-soul check-ups scheduled. One must learn to trust themselves to love again inspire of the thorns to come.

To guide someone to be spiritually free, one must have been set free themselves by the Lord Jesus Christ. These chosen people understand well the phrase, “He jets at scars who never felt a wound,” for they have felt the wound. These individulas know pain is caused by reaching to love the unlovable, to bare the unbearable, to give when there’s no more to give.

Yet these chosen people of God will stretch out their hand and give godly grace for they know what the cell room smells, feels and looks. They have empathy for those who are still captives in the cell. It’s an experience they will never forget nor ever want live through again.

Pray, Seek, Knock and Find

Troubles? Take Timeouts.

Remember, as children when we got in trouble, we were sent to timeout?

As a parent, I would tell my kids to think about what they did wrong. While the child sat, they would have to stay there until they, themselves, identified their error and understood the correct manner of behavior. Which I had already explain to them, but they had to own their choice and decide to make better choices in the future.

Without knowing why, today, my soul was troubled, I had the urge to go for a drive and have a timeout. Expecting to learn the error of my ways I desired to find a place out in nature to listen to what God had taught me and seem to be trying to remind me. Eagle River, Alaska came to mind. Being a place where bears are cited, I invited a friend and off we went. (We didn’t see any bears, which we were thankful after learning that this was the time for brown bears and grizzlies to be passing through to feed from the salmon runs.)

My friend holding a mold of a grissly bear’s paw. Yikes!

 

Before leaving my place, I took time to read my devotional. As soon as I read the verses, I had the urge to leave, now. Without reading any further, I left with three questions packed in my heart. What should I be asking? What should I be seeking? And where should I be knocking? Eagerly I drove, expecting to hear definite answers from God at some point on the hike but, none came.

For those of you who know the passage, the verses were from Matthew 7:7-8 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” They’re familiar verses in the Christian community, but for me this time they had something new to teach me. I just didn’t know exactly what that lesson was, because I hadn’t identify where I stood with God.

Seating and pondering on my day in Eagle River, which I didn’t receive answers or clarity of these verses or my errored ways, I read the rest of the devotional. It reminded me to be persistent in asking and that Jesus doesn’t recommend for us to ask, He commands for us to ask. Now that’s something to think about for my future timeout from my day.

The devotional also said, that asking isn’t quite sufficient from Jesus’ point of view. He wants us to take it up a notch. We should seek out what we need from God and we will find it. Well asking is much less work than seeking, because one doesn’t have to do anything. While seeking takes our effort not just God’s. There are times, I just want the answer without much work on my part.

Do you remember asking your mom for something you know she could easily give you, but she sent you out to find it yourself and then get it on your own? Well I’m wondering if that’s what God was trying to tell me, when I rather for Him to just hand it to me. I still wonder, what is it that I truly want? I sense I must go on to the third question maybe I will receive clarity.

Knocking on the door is the final step. Well the devotional reference that the door is heaven’s door. It also mention that our asking and seeking takes us to the very doorsteps of heaven. Once there, we shouldn’t just stand there and wait, we should knock on the door. Well to tell you the truth, I’ve been afraid to knock on the door. Why? Because of what God has to offer.

What if God gives me my heart desire only to be taken away. Maybe, I don’t want to feel that pain again, so I will not knock, then I keep what I long for in the longing place of my heart. No wonder I felt like a timeout. I needed to see the error of my thinking and correct it with truth. It is better to have had it for a short while than not to have it at all. Besides, who told me that it will be taken again and why bother having it in the first place? Who have I been listening to? Whom have I followed? I’ve listen to the voices of Doubt, Disappointment and Fear.

They misguided me because of the troubles that have come and taken the good things my husband and I have been blessed with in Vancouver. We placed our house on the market and sold within twelve hours. We had to leave quickly that we didn’t have time to say good-bye to our friends. The move-out happened in less than two weeks from our return of our working travels. Our belongings were stuffed in storage and off we flew to Alaska to work again.

Now, we are homeless and have no idea where to plant our life and allow roots to grow. You see, I have lived in almost twenty places in thirty-five years of marriage which includes less than ten city moves and seven states covering from Texas to Maryland to Montana to Washington and now Alaska.

Do you see why I’m shy to knock and ask where should I be seeking residency? At the moment, we’re staying in an Airbnb in Alaska provided by my husband’s work. When he’s not working we’ll be staying with my daughter in Seattle, Washington.

I know once I knock on the door of heaven, it will be open. God will meet me and He will provide the answer. But, will it be the answer I seek? Or will He offer me the answer which is best to produce the fruits that are needed? I also know, that God will hand my husband and I not only what we need but gift us with more, with the purpose of sharing. All things do come from his storehouse and he will place the gifts into our hands for us and for us to share.

I understand. It’s not about finding residency, a house to call home or having a dwelling place. It’s about asking and seeking where does God want us, my husband and I to bear fruit. Like the devotional said, all of our persistent asking, seeking and knocking shows God that we are serious and sincere about our desire to bear fruits like John teaches.

John 15:16  ^“You have not chosen Me, I have chosen you. I have set you apart for the work of bringing in fruit. Your fruit should last. And whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give it to you.”

Am I ready to ask, seek and knock? I am. I’ve recognize the error of my ways, listening and believing the voices of Doubt, Disappointment and Fear instead of the voice of my Shepard, Jesus himself. I should trust Him with our future, my husbands and mine as a couple and mine as an individual.

Father, In Jesus name I come and ask to show me the way my husband and I should go and where to plant our lives to bear fruit, so that you can feed those who hunger after your precepts and desire to draw closer to you plus, to learn about your Son, the one who saves, died and rose again, Jesus, who conquered our sins, who forgives without our cost. for He paid it all. Thank you for choosing me. In Jesus name I ask, seek and knock. And in His name I wait to find a home to share of what God has in store for my husband and me.

 

 

THE DESIRABLE ROAD AHEAD

Incase, you want to know why I try to post positive and uplifting words and scripture?

Because they are my personal road map to myself.

Otherwise, the negative, put down, and hindering voices make me doubt on where to head. When they come, they not only want to hang around, but navigate my life. Telling me to go back where I came from.

Often, I return to a previous post only to read what I have told myself, slamming the door on the voices of doubt, insecurity, fear and insignificance.

With the Lord’s confidence, I remind myself, I am no longer that small, timid, shrinking back latina girl.

More and more, I voice, “I am bold and courageous and daring. I’m a pillar of fire whom can’t easily be put out.

I know God has gifted me with the ability to express my thoughts and see beauty to photograph.

Through my photography I soar like an eagle as I explore where life takes me. At places where the Lord allows my feet to walk, His Spirit helps me see the beauty around.

I only need to listen and go where the light shines and the wind moves. There, I see what God wants me to see and I can’t wait to share my finds and words here with you.

Thank you for taking the time to read my thoughts. God bless each of you.

Fret Appeared As A Flick

Philippians 3:13-14 “I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.” MSG

I received a phone call saying that one of my son’s is not doing well and is thinking of quitting his job for a lesser one.

Let me back up four months past.

My oldest son was involved in an automobile accident. He was rear ended by a van going at 60 mph totaling his car. He, his wife and two young son were in the car at the time. Thankfully, no one else was hurt, only him. After three months of recovery, he returned to work, but he’s not the same.

The neck injury is effecting one of his hand. He’s unable to hold on to things. As his mother, my heart broke again as I heard the news. This son has faced one challenge after another without much of a break. Some of those are of his own doing, but others came as magnets not releasing him until the lasting damages had taken its course, much like this one.

When I’m riding on God’s Eagles, His promises, like the verse in Philippians and receive heart tugging news of one of my children struggling, I want to land the eagle and ask my child to climb aboard.

But, I can’t.

I can only call and point to the Lord’s almighty eagle for them to climb on.

Before fret ignited full-blown worry in my soul, I pointed my son where the Holy Spirit led me. I couldn’t believe my eyes as read, Isaiah 4: 10.

“. . . I’ve picked you. I haven’t dropped you.’
Don’t panic. I’m with you.
    There’s no need to fear for I’m your God.
I’ll give you strength. I’ll help you.
    I’ll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you.” msg

My hope is that my son climbed aboard.

Trusting my God gave no room for the flame of worry to crash me to the ground of uncertainty and disbelief. I continued to soar on my eagle. For, I must press on to the goal God has before me.

Without a doubt, I knew the Lord reached down to my son. All my son needed to do was to take His Lord’s hand and climb on His promise.

Holly Spirit minister to my son’s spirit as you have minister to mine. Help him to hear what God wants him to know. Direct his path along the side his Savior. Lord, strengthen his faith and belief in You.

God, please give my husband and I wisdom on how to advice our son, or not to speak, plus being the godly parents he needs at this time. Thank you, for all you are doing and will do for my son and his beautiful family.

May you find encouragement in God’s word and my story.

Soar on Eagles Wings. (Click on soar and wings to listen to songs.)

 

A Spiritual Lesson To Survive Life’s Storms

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of sympathy (pity and mercy) and the God [Who is the Source] of every comfort (consolation and encouragement), Who comforts (consoles and encourages) us in every trouble (calamity and affliction), so that we may also be able to comfort (console and encourage) those who are in any kind of trouble or distress, with the comfort (consolation and encouragement) with which we ourselves are comforted (consoled and encouraged) by God.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 AMPC

ABOVE THE CLOUDS ~ While one faces uncertainty, God lift us above the cloudy issues which surround us on any given day. The prayer of many assist us to stay afloat while God reminds or tells us how to live as storms approach.

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Will we listen? Or will we only survive with the few scraps that fall from his table? Will we act upon God’s truth and promises as facts?

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We are children of a King, expect great things. I’m not talking about tangible items, like money, houses or cars, which God can provide. But the one’s to focus on are hope, faith, belief and strength which come from our Abba Father. These are the ones that will keep our emotions, our thoughts and our words away from giving room to scenarios which may never happen. These ‘what ifs’ will drown us in our sorrows and true disappointments.

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Our Lord does gives us his strength to endure the discomforts we must face to survive the harshness of the tempest. It’s the spiritual blessings, gifts and supplies that come from him which we should take hold of when the dark days of depression, anxiety or hopelessness consume our lives.

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We can and will survive. We may be bruised, wounded and broken, but oh the stories we will have of how we saw His mighty hand over, under and at times surrounding us as we face and felt each blow.

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Stay faithful my fiends. Surround yourself with believers. Don’t let go of God’s promises. We will prevail, not by our strength, but the unity of God’s kingdom and the mighty hand of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Nature Is Conversant

🍂WOES FROST MY SPIRIT🍂
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Unseen ground roots bind my soul long enough to hear the earth below my feet whisper valuable advice. “Don’t allow the obvious to mislead your heart and react from the immediate emotion.

Take a breather, hush your thoughts and pay attention to what is not easily seen.

There is much to learn about what lies under what first is presented before you.

Don’t allow difficulties or hardships to take your focus from the earth.

For God created you from the same dirt which brings spring back with its beautiful colors to paint the world.

You are to bring color into other souls. You are free to be what you were created to do.

Believe and you will brighten souls with what you know to be true.”
°
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Nature is conversant, are you listening.

Woes may frost my spirit, but truth melts the frost.

The Dangers of holding Yourself Back

Stifling Dreams Create Nightmares

What talent am I suffocating, because of what if it takes off?

What ability am I quenching, because of what others may think of me?

What inspiration am I killing, because of what if it succeed?

Stifling our creativity harms not only ourselves, but those whom would have benefited from our work.

In a sense, we are not only killing our growth by withholding inspiration from the world around us, but we are keeping ourselves in the darkness of hopelessness.

Breakthroughs from stifle thinking, not only brings dreams alive, but give light for many other souls to hope again through our gifts, talents and works.

Be creative, spread insight, possibilities and imagination.

Allow your dream to take flight.

A Box Marked – For Later

I keep a box in my heart and I almost used it today.

This morning my body whispered, “It’s a good day to stay in bed and sleep a little longer.” But the morning fog pulled me outside where I came face to face with a fear I haven’t over come. It was then when I realized, why I wanted to stay in bed.

Outside, I enjoyed the cool morning air, imagined itsy, bitsy snowflakes lingering about me and took a few pictures before returned home.

With the fear in mind, the end of a topic came to  mind. No beginning or middle, only the end. What ever I was about to write, it will end with acknowledging my fear.

I started my creative writing process. A short post on Instagram, editing  photos, and brain stormed topics for future projects while I ate my breakfast.

Before I sat down to write, I took care of a few shores and thought of how I should start the topic at hand, fear.

But, the idea didn’t develop.

Fist thought was, I’m procrastinating or writers’ block. Soon, I realized,  it was me, I didn’t want to write about the cause of my fear, because it was to real and fresh. I rather tuck it away in my “For later,” mental box.

When, would it be best to write about this topic?

Well, when my jitters would calm and the lump of fear in my throat has been swallowed and digested. Or after the winter snow has melted. Which ever comes first.

In side the ‘Later box,’ are many subjects which I’ refuse to write about. Why? Because, I’m not ready to experience the pain or disappointment again.

Yet, in order to write a compelling, moving piece, the struggle has to be real, not made up. Which means, I have to revisit the pain, the conflict, the experience to give my words life and spring forth feelings in the reader’s heart.

A well written piece, engages the reader’s mind, taps into their feelings and moves their heart. If I accomplish these difficult skills well, then I hope the reader could find resolution for similar circumstances.

Numerous times, I’ve started to write what’s on my heart only to never  finish the article or story. It hangs frozen in my mind. With time it’s forgotten.

Today, I didn’t want this topic to end in the box. So I asked myself a question.

Why do I abandon my ideas?

I  refuse to give a voice to my past struggles, hurts and pain out of fear that they may cripple me again. I remind myself, of who I believe in and how much stronger I am because of Christ in my life.

Remembering the past, is like reliving my life experiences, which some  of those memories, I rather forget. 

Yet, I’m learning that my sufferings have melodies whom some people can identify with. The areas which I’ve grown stronger could possibly help a reader moved forward from their struggle. Once, they understood how they too can face their fears or past hurts with the right help.

Hope, is important for the reader to regain. Therefor, I must have, a beginning, a middle and an end to show how to prevail as one hold on to hope.

Questions I ask myself today:

What am I really afraid of? And why?

Am  I comparing myself with anyone? Is it beneficial?

 

If yes, how did they get where they are?

What struggles did they faced to achieve their reward?

If, I focus only on their success, I’ve missed the essence of their story.

The same is true when I write my stories. If I only write about happiness, I left the reader dissatisfied. For they know, life is not all sweet.  Life is about the challenges as one pursuits happiness.

For we all are seeking ways to surpass, overcome, or hold on. We want to know how to get up when everything within us tells us to sleep our life away for we don’t matter.

One must understand and swallow the bitterness of doing what one doesn’t want to do in order to bring forth the sweetness of success.

I’m ready to seek not only for a strong engaging beginning, but a middle which the reader can identify with and a tangible, realistic, possible ending.

I, as the writer, must face the middle of my work and walk through he treacherous, dark and lonely times without fearing the end. The success of accomplishment.

With that being written, I‘m glad I started my day when I did, or else I wouldn’t have finished this blog today.

What about you, my friend? Where did you find yourself this morning, later in the day or maybe this evening? What were you avoiding and why? Are you willing to search your soul and face the truth? Don’t forget to call on God for help.

If you’re still in your robe, pick up your will and accomplish one thing. May that one task lead to another and then another and another. if not today, maybe tomorrow. Before you know, you’ll arrived at the end  of your task, and have faced your fear.

I acknowledge, I wasn’t avoiding pain, I was afraid of success.

Even though, I belief that I can do all things through Christ who strengths me, I still struggle with being successful.

I not only acknowledge what I’m afraid of, but I didn’t hide it away.

Without a doubt, I will finish my stories.  

Maybe, this article will act as a compass for you and guide you to arrive to your truth of why you are not getting out of bed in the mornings or finishing your project.

What are you avoiding?

Invincible Power

🔸️INVINCIBLE POWER🔸️

The ocean has the ability to relocates heavy stones with its invincible, raging power.

We too can move stones out-of-the-way with a force which gives belief, perseverance and faith an unseen power.

That force is prayer.
🔸️🔸️🔸️🔸️🔸️🔸️🔸️🔸️🔸️🔸️🔸️🔸️🔸️🔸️🔸️🔸️🔸️