This message from Paul to Philippi is what I had read this morning. 4 Rejoice in the LORD always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The LORD is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, … Continue reading Stillness Lies Ahead
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. -Galatians 5:22-23. It has been such a life-changing period of time for my family and I throughout the last year. It is truly amazing how simply choosing a different attitude can transform one into a totally different individual. My part in the … Continue reading The Laws Of Love
Originally posted on My Journey:
My kids are just that; kids. They are rambunctious, rebellious at times and full of energy that cannot be contained. They drive their mother and I up the wall. We get frustrated with them. Our patience is pushed to the limits. We sometimes find ourselves raising our voices, taking privileges away and grounding them. Some days are easier than others… Continue reading “You Really Get On My Nerves, But I Still Love You!”
My mother and I lived in a little trailer several miles from the city. We had lived several places within the city before moving to the trailer park. It was a place that was desolate to me. I was about fifteen years old, and depression was becoming a pretty familiar friend at that time. I would spend a lot of my time in my bedroom. … Continue reading The Gift Of Gratitude
The rain is sweeping over our area this morning. We have been blessed with unusually warm weather, even though it is the first day of November. There has been a significant drop in temperature accompanying the heavy downpour, and it is likely to bring the cooler temperatures we should be having. “We should be having.” I observe the unusual temperatures and expect the change of … Continue reading “Did I Receive The Correct Change?”
There is a current headline that is titled “Man in Florida arrested, charged in connection with mail bombs sent to public figures” that was displayed on The Washington Post website today. After skimming through the article, I quickly realized that it was about a man who had sent out homemade bombs to political figures. To be honest, I quit reading it after I understood the … Continue reading Diffusing Our Bombs
There are times when I wonder just what others really think about faith? How they define it. How they comprehend it. How they understand it. This is my personal testimony about how I have recently grown in my faith. A little over seven years ago, my wife and I had first met. I was a thirty-something who had never been married. She was a mother … Continue reading I’m Powerless Without Faith
Let’s face it. We follow a lot of people. Where should I start? This is not a bashing session. It is just how I see the world through my eyes as I walk with Him. He has revealed many things that have shown me just how far the devil can go in his attempt to take our eyes off of Jesus, and how he does … Continue reading We Follow People Before Jesus
If we are so obedient, then why do we still have problems? There was a time early on within the beginning stages of my newfound walk with the Lord that had me scratching my head. I mean, I had started attending church regularly, read my Bible, went to Sunday School before church, read the Bible at home with my family, contacted my pastor often when … Continue reading He Had Me Bound
Yesterday was a breakthrough. A close loved one and I have been everything but loving towards each other. The last year has brought on many different emotions that have surfaced at the worst possible times. It has definitely hindered our individual lives in various, negative ways. We have been attending therapy sessions for the past several months, and our hour together yesterday was a much … Continue reading “Could You Please Repeat That?”
Idols. We all have them. Social media, food, drink, music, sex, money, work, ministry, or ourself. There are many popular things of the world that we desperately try to convince ourselves, and others, of being “okay” within the eyes of the Lord. The desires of the flesh. Not of Spirit. As Christ followers, we are called to continuously keep our hearts in check, moving further … Continue reading Check Yourself
“Your legacy is defined in the values, the convictions and the hope you bestow upon the world. Therefore, it is not just something you leave – it is something you entrust.” – Unknown writer for The Salvation Army When I pass the man with the cardboard sign, many things run through my mind. Usually, one of the first things is the wonder of his or … Continue reading What We Leave With Others
Walk in Light 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful … Continue reading Awakened
After performing a quick life expectancy Google search, Wikipedia claims that the average American man is expected to live 76.9 years. This claim has shown me that my life is passed the halfway mark. Although the statistics show this, no one can say for sure how long any of us will live. Some of the earliest memories that I have are of my mothers’ parents … Continue reading Nothing In This World Lasts Forever
It is getting close to Halloween. The sound of footsteps, as they crush and kick the fallen leaves, will soon fill the evening. The knocks on the door will echo throughout our home. I will soon gaze through the glass of my entryway, observing the eager youngsters who await the handouts. A partially-filled bag or pail will be presented, and the sweets will be dropped … Continue reading What I Have Allowed In
You may know the story of why Jesus was crucified, but have you experienced that crucifixion? Crucifixion, according to Wikipedia, is “a method of capital punishment in which the victim is tied or nailed to a large wooden beam and left to hang for several days until eventual death from exhaustion and asphyxiation.” Not long ago, hope was just a word. It had no value, … Continue reading A Walking Dead Man
My kids are just that; kids. They are rambunctious, rebellious at times and full of energy that cannot be contained. They drive their mother and I up the wall. We get frustrated with them. Our patience is pushed to the limits. We sometimes find ourselves raising our voices, taking privileges away and grounding them. Some days are easier than others when it comes to dealing … Continue reading “You Really Get On My Nerves, But I Still Love You!”
There are actually many gods in our lives. Little ones. Little idols that we believe have little, or no control over us. We can proclaim Lord as Lord, but what about the things that lord over us? Should they go without mention, or unrecognized? There was a time when cannabis has great control within my life. I lived for it. It was a necessity. I … Continue reading My Sweet, Precious Necessities!
There is a place about an hour from our home that we visit every once in a while. Yesterday, my son and I went for a hike there. It’s a place that is full of natural formations of sandstone that have been carved away by wind and rain over a period of thousands of years. The elements have sculpted some of the most stunning and … Continue reading A Break From Our Troubles
Our own toxicity is sometimes what keeps us from moving forward. I had a brief talk with a co-worker yesterday about what we choose to fill our lives with, and how those things affect us. The conversation started out by me saying something that was interpreted as negative, and it was. I was very tired yesterday when first arriving. Unable to accurately recognize emotions in … Continue reading Sometimes, Life Just Sucks!
I had a talk with my manager at my job last year. It was an interesting conversation to say the least. He had walked upstairs within the building that we work in. I was off in the distance of that floor when I heard him call me over. My boss and I have had many talks before. We see each other often and pass the … Continue reading How We Have Served
I sometimes hate weekends. My wife has a third-shift job that she works on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. My kids go to their grandparent’s house for the weekend most of the time. Saturday is a day of rest for me, and let me tell you, it is a much needed time for me. I have a very physical job, so rest is something that I … Continue reading Personal Struggles Are Sometimes Revealing, And Refining
Patience. I can truly say that I haven’t really had much of it throughout my life. Impatience was always a big part of who I was. Within the strands of my life, there have been many lessons that have led me to a better understanding of patience. I’m thinking deeply about it this morning. I believe the early childhood trauma played a part in my … Continue reading Patiently Waiting For A Brighter Day
There is a guy I have known for nearly ten years. A quiet man who obviously lives with a lot of frustration. He is in his late fifties, has no children, has never been married and lives alone. I know a few things about him that have really made my heart bleed for him on more than one occasion. From the little I have gathered … Continue reading His Cocktail Of Chaos
A message from Bob Beeman Continue reading Struggling With Worship
“This Bible! So many rules!” This is the mindset I had several years ago. As I was being introduced to the Lord and learning about His Word, everything that I was reading was about a bunch of rules, and how I did not measure up. I would read, go to a “church” that constantly reminded of how imperfect I was, and beat myself to a … Continue reading “You’re Grounded! For Life!”
I grew up with a lot of friends who had cool dads. I realize that many of them may not have thought that their dad was very cool, but I had a different view of them. In my eyes, these men were not like my dad. They were not always distant, and preoccupied. They were engaging in the things that dads do with their children. … Continue reading A Father I’ve Never Known
Maybe just for today, we can survive In the current place Maybe we can find joy in a memory Or embrace the present pain Perhaps we can see a coming day So far out of reach Maybe we can focus on a distant calmness And see that it is already here Maybe we can find joy in the rising sun Or the smile of a … Continue reading Just For Today
Another day of His choosing. He has blessed me with another day, and for that I am thankful. I am also thankful for the things that He has been showing me this past week. I watched a few good movies over the weekend, and they really spoke to me. They were movies that had a message of the healing power of the Lord. I didn’t … Continue reading The Signs That We Keep Passing By
It has been a very long week. My body is tired. My mind is lazy. I am looking forward to this day of rest. I am fortunate to have a very physical and demanding position at my place of work. It is something that I greatly appreciate and enjoy. I am constantly on my feet, moving at a steady pace. I do a lot of … Continue reading I Rest Assured
There is a landscape display in my city that has a constant flow of water springing from the rocks within it. The water supply is never shut off. It is constantly being circulated through the pumps that force the water to the top of the rocks. The water cascades down the stone, and the pumps repeat the cycle. It is a nice display. Pleasing to … Continue reading Still Waters
What we accomplish has great reward. We set out to do a good deed, or go to a school in order to receive a degree. We work our way up the ladder within the corporate world. As we progress in whatever success we have dedicated ourselves to, we reflect on the work that we have put in. We experience feelings of euphoria, or happiness. We … Continue reading The Spotlight Is Incredibly Blinding
Many things enter my mind that I not only make a mental note of, but also enter into the memo app on my phone. They are things of importance that I know will be forgotten within a short amount of time. Periodically, I go into my memo and take a look at my short thoughts from the past. I’ve read one of my notes today … Continue reading A Spiritual Shelter of Refuge
The appreciation for each morning has really evolved over that past few years. I lost a good friend in 2006, and it was a very trying time for me. My buddy, who actually was one of my enemies for years prior, became one of the most trusted confidants I have ever known. We would have the deepest conversations, and he was one of the reasons … Continue reading A New Way To Begin
Sometimes my walk with the Lord is a very real emotional rollercoaster. Yesterday started off very nice. It was a peaceful morning, and I had planned on meeting a friend of mine who needed a helping hand later within the day. The weather outside was nice. Bright, and calm. I had accomplished some things around the outside of the house that needed to be done. … Continue reading The Devil Laughs As I Go
There is a non-fiction series that I have been watching off and on about a man who is awaiting his date of execution. It tells the story of his life as he was growing up, and it explains the progressive life of crime that led him to his current location on death row. It explains the situations that led him to make the poor decisions … Continue reading Breaking Through The Confines Of A Hardened Heart
There is definitely a reason why kids are running our streets at night. My young teen years were absolutely great. I was always running from here to there. I had a motorized scooter that I would ride all over town. I had a great amount of freedom. Way too much. I also had every opportunity to visit many harmful environments. If I needed drugs and … Continue reading Because We Can!
There was a certain kid in my grade as I was growing up who always had to win. Basketball was his favorite thing to do, and he was always practicing in the parking area behind his home. When we would play at school, I remember the kid yelling about bad plays, or bad shots. He was always so frustrated with everyone, and I’m sure it … Continue reading The Competition Within Ourselves
Throughout the past several months, I have been running the gauntlet of emotional turmoil. There is a battle that has been brewing between myself and my parent. We have not been able to communicate, have become very distant because of events that have taken place, and we are about to meet with a therapist to begin the healing process. Unfortunately, I am not ready to … Continue reading Another Path To Clear
I lived within a dysfunctional family. I was once engaged to a woman who had a mother with many problems. Her mom would stay with us for extended periods of time. She was addicted to opiates, and had a plastic pill container full of the daily doses of her medications. Way too many to count. I remember the Tupperware containers full of her prescriptions that … Continue reading Our Deadly Combination
There are days where I am so deep in thought. It seems to be a thing I’ve carried as I walk along the roads of my journey. In past times, I would periodically sit in the woods for hours, just thinking. Thinking about the life I was living, and how empty it really was. I would think about all of the ugliness within it. I … Continue reading The Mysterious Trail Of Thoughts
There are some things that are not very good for us. For instance, it is not wise to eat fried foods all of the time. Although it may be delicious, it has numerous ways of harming our health. We may choose to smoke heavily, and that also has its consequences. If we were to drive over flooded roads during heavy rains, we would run the … Continue reading Reaping What We Have Sown
My father and I have had a rocky relationship, to say the least. As I was growing up, he was not really a person who I could look at as a constant. I always felt as if I was borrowing his time. There are many things that I would love to remove from the compartments of my heart that involve the man I would … Continue reading The Context May Be Misconstrued
Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. When I was growing up, my grandfather and I would go fishing at times. We would load some fishing gear in the back of his pick-up and head out to a little pond … Continue reading Teaching His Children To Fish For Joy
The memories of my grandfather and his work shed. There was an addition off to the side of a one car garage that was made into his work area. The small space was a place where he frequently spent his time. As a young boy, I would venture out to watch my grandpa work on little projects. A grinding wheel mounted on an old green … Continue reading Collected Fragments Of My Time
Writing by D. Zuleger Do you believe that God can author pain or suffering in your life for your good? Could affliction, from a larger, longer perspective, be a carefully, lovingly chosen method for blessing? Some say absolutely not. If our heavenly Father brings pain, he would be an abusive parent. And so they are offended by statements like this: Suffering is one of the … Continue reading Can A Good God Bring Pain?
Becoming exactly the woman I want to be.
What will I write about next?
Everything is Black and White
Words and Pictures from the Middle East & Balkans
"The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, says the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, says the LORD of hosts." (Hag 2:9)
on being here now
Say what you mean, not what you wish
Scribbles when I feel lost
Something Real
poetry
Live, Learn, Love & Grow!
Thoughts About Mental Illness From My Mind To Yours
Paintings, Drawings, and Crafts by Kayla McLaney
Welcome to my infinitesimal corner on the web.
How to prevent & cure
In Words
Off Grid Alaskan Farm and Family
The Music, Magick, Poetry and Madness of Kevin Trent Boswell
Making People Cool and Author
Putting The Hero Back In Action
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." - 2 Timothy 1:7
My reflections on the week past accompanied by music and memories
Never feel alone on your journey with mental health.
A Christian's Journey through Anxiety
Inspiring To be faithful, Believe In One's Self, and Love Life.
"The Lord Our Banner" (Exodus 17:15)
To justify the ways of schizophrenia to man
a nomads thoughts on faith and life
fan into flame the gift of faith
A Weekly Journal of Faith
THE SPIRIT OF LITTLE PAWS TREKKING THROUHG OUR HEARTS
POET CAFE - blog by Alex Markovich (42 y.o., Russia, author, artist, theater director)
Wrestling with Faith and Mental Health
All goes onward and outward. . . .and nothing collapses, And to die is different from what any one supposed, and luckier. - Walt Whitman
We're all made of stardust and love
Talking about my books, themes and ideas about life
by Brian Starie
exploring the intersection of the monstrous and the sacred
Just your average PhD student using the internet to enhance their CV
Sharing What Brings My Life The Greatest Joy Through Poetry
Poetic Landscapes Of The Spirit
