The Heart Says It All

We have all heard the saying "a picture is worth a thousand words".  This picture shows you a happy young man who loves life and he doesn't judge "a book by its cover, but he loves a person by their character".

This is my nephew and he is a special person.  I can remember the day that my sister called to tell me that she was pregnant.  It was an exciting day for everyone.  My sister went the extra mile in taking care of herself.  She ate the foods that would assist in developing this babies body and she exercised to give her body the strength that she needed.  Her and her husband began to create the room for this special baby.  We just didn't realize at the time, how special Graham would be.

The family was waiting for Graham's arrival into this world.  That sweet, 6 pounds and 8 ounces was the sweetest picture.  He had his ten toes and his ten fingers.   After about two days in the hospital, my sister and brother-in-law went home with their baby boy.

The first day went okay, but after that things just didn't seem to be going the way they should.  Graham cried a lot and he couldn't gain weight.  Terri and Gary tried everything.

Four months later, Graham was scheduled for hernia surgery.  We all thought this was the answer.  He went into the hospital weighing 8 pounds and 2 ounces(this is 4 months later).

The surgery went well.  But when they were trying to wake him up from the surgery, he went into a code blue.  For some reason, he wasn't able to swallow.  This is when all doctors and nurses got on board and began to do various blood work and run other tests to figure out exactly what the situation was.

After a few days, Graham was diagnosed.  He has a chromosomal condition that can be classified as a monosomy 21(a deletion of the 21st chromosoma).  In addition, he has some extra of the 19th chromosoma.  When he was diagnosed at four months, he was a failure to thrive baby.  It was determined that he did not have the ability to swallow and manage food.  He had surgery to place a G-button for tube feeding, as well as a wrap on the esophagus to prevent reflux.

At this time, Terri and Gary were told told that there were not really any other cases like him.  In the few that were similar, the babies died.  We were told that Graham would never walk or talk and that he would be severely retarded.

Graham has defied the odds.  He does walk and run.  He is delayed in speech and social skills.  He does understand everything you say to him.  He is still tube fed and he eats very small bites of certain foods.  He gets his main calories from being tube fed.

At the time my sister got pregnant, she had left the corporate world.  She had been a Trainer for Elizabeth Arden Cosmetics for thirteen years.  To this day, she says her greatest success has been Graham.  I do believe that God had prepared Terri for working with Graham with her background in training.

Graham will be turning "21" this month.  Though small in size, he has a big heart.  Graham loves people, sports, having fun and of course playing on his laptop. He enjoys dressing up as Captain Marvel or any of the other Superheros.  And every once in a while he pops up in the room dressed as a Ninja Turtle.  All of this has been achieved through therapy, great teachers in school, Terri and Gary, and of course, all the prayers that have been lifted up for Graham throughout the last 21 years.

A big dance party is being planned to celebrate Graham's life.  All of his family, friends and friends from school will be attending.  I can hardly wait to watch him open up his cards.  He loves opening up cards with a dollar bill inside of them.  That one dollar means the world to him.

When you are having a bad day or wondering why life is the way that it is, I want you to stop and to think of Graham and say a prayer for him.  Know that God is there and He is with you each step of the way.   Do a heart with your hands and know that you are loved!  Remember God has a plan for each of our lives.

God is Alive!

As I look at this sunset, I know that God is alive!  The rays from the sunset show me how He shines.  He is at work, even though at times I wonder.  My heart has been so heavy burden lately.   I talk with someone and find out that a family member or good friend has a serious health condition.  I begin to pray for this person and I pray for healing.  I know God heals.  I have seen people that were healed and then there were others that were not healed.  Why didn't God heal them on earth?  This is so hard to comprehend.  All I know is that I need to trust Him and know that He heals in His timing, either here on earth or with Him.

When I read Psalms 139:13-16, I know that God created each one of us.

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful.  I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place.  When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body.  All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."

These verses are showing me that God knew me before I was even conceived.  If He knew me then, He knows me now.  Any health issues or challenges in one's life, God already knew about before anyone else did.  This is telling me to "let go and let God".  Let God do what God knows and does best.  "His love is eternal and his faithfulness lasts forever".

I am praying and I am asking God to heal each individual.   I am also asking that God will give each person a peace among their family and that they will feel God's presence and know that God is in control.

As I wake up each morning and see the beautiful sunrise, may I ask for the direction that I need for that day.  And at the end of the day as I see the sunset, may I thank God for this day and what He has provided for me.

I know that each day there is a sunrise and a sunset.   May I also remember that God is the alpha and the omega!

Turning "88"

As we begin to age, we all wonder what age we will live to.  Will I be in good health; will I be in sound mind; will I be alone.....?  There are so many things that we wonder about.

Just this week, my dad turned "88".  He is of sound mind. He sees very well(he can spot a bird in the far distance). He is pretty much in good health.  He has his cane that assists him in getting around.  Really the only obstacle in his life is his hearing.  He is 95% deaf.  Even with hearing aids, it is hard for him to understand what you are saying.

In the past few months, I attended a funeral and the obituary read that the family was going to celebrate the life of the deceased.  It is great to be celebrating one's life after they die, but why don't we celebrate people's lives while they are still alive.

With dad's "88th" birthday approaching, I thought it would be nice to have family and friends celebrate dad's life by sending him a birthday card and writing a note inside.  I texted, phoned and e-mail friends and asked if they would send my dad a card.  I let them know that dad's life pretty much consists of daily going to Starbuck's, waiting for the mail and sitting outside to look at the squirrels and birds.  Everybody was excited about sending dad a card and putting a smile on his face. 

On dad's birthday, he had received about sixty-six cards, but by the end of the week, he had the 88 cards.  In some of the cards, a Starbuck gift card was included.  That really put a smile on his face.  Friends and family have texted me and wanted to know if he had received the 88.  There are a lot of good people in our society that want to do something for someone, if they just knew. 

What has been interesting to me is that "88" is an important birthday, especially in the Japanese culture.  My friends from Tokyo were visiting me when I was sending cards to dad.  They let me know that the celebration of one's 88th birthday is very important in Japan.  It is known as beiju or "yone-no-iwai".  The Japanese character for "88" when written together resemble the character for "rice".  Rice had a special place in the Japanese society as it was their main food; their livelihood and denoted purity and wholesomeness.

I also learned that in the Chinese culture, "88" symbolizes fortune and good luck.  The number 8 is considered to be the luckiest number in Chinese culture and prices in Chinese supermarkets often contain many 8s.

With dad turning 88 and receiving 88 cards, I do believe this will be a great year for him!

Flying In Sync!

This morning as I walked, I observed the geese flying in my direction.  I could hear their honking in the distance.  With the sound of the geese, I know that fall is here.

There is so much that we can learn from nature.  Geese are one of those creatures that we can learn a lot from.

Have you ever wondered why geese fly in the "V" formation?  We have learned from science "why" they fly that way.  When each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird immediately following.  By flying in a "V" formation, the whole flock adds at least 71% greater flying range, than if each bird flew on its own.  What formation is your team that you work with or even have fun with?

From this, we learn that people who share a common direction and commitment can get where they are quicker and easier by traveling on the thrust of one another.  It is easier to get somewhere or find out about something by becoming part of a team.

When the lead goose gets tired, he or she rotates back in the wing and another goose takes over and flies point.  Like the geese, are you observing your teammates?  You should be observant, willing and ready to step in and help other team members, whenever they begin to lose their energy or momentum.  Have you helped someone out this week?

Also, as we listen to the honking of the geese, we begin to realize that the ones behind are encouraging those up front.  The people that you work with, are you encouraging them instead of discouraging them?  

Just remember that "A Team That Flies In Sync......SOARS"!

Take time to be still and listen and observe your surroundings.  You may learn something!

Changes

As I strolled through the neighborhood this afternoon, so much was on my mind.  Here it is the middle of August and already the weather and the trees & bushes are changing.  It was like a fall day with the temperature in the 70s and drizzling throughout the day.

Some of the trees in the neighborhood are already turning red, brown with a hint of yellow.  I also noticed the shrubs changing and reminding me of fall foliage.

When I think of the change of seasons, the verse that always comes to mind is:

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven;

a time to be born and a time to die.....

a time to weep and a time to laugh....

a time to be silent and a time to speak....

a time to love and a time to hate...."  Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

What does all of this mean?  Solomon wrote Ecclesiastes as he reflected on his life and how he had lived much of his life apart from God.  When Solomon became King, the one thing that he asked God for was wisdom.  God gave him all the wisdom that he needed and leaders from other nations came to Solomon to seek his advice and to learn from him.  Through all of this, Solomon became proud and forgot that God was the one that created him and gave him the wisdom that he asked for.  Even with all the wisdom, Solomon's life began to spiral and he didn't live what he taught.  In his last years of life, Solomon began to realize the mistakes that he had made.  He wrote Ecclesiastes so that others would realize that everything apart from God is empty, hollow and meaningless.

God does have a plan for each of our lives, however long we are on earth.  This morning I heard about a 17 year old girl who had died of cancer.  Even though her life was short, she lived it with hope and trust in Jesus.  One always thinks, why did God take her at such a young age.  I don't know and whom am I to question God.  I do know that God used her attitude and love for her family to show others how much you need to treasure each moment.

There have been days that I have cried my eyes out and then there have been times that I have laughed so hard, that I cried.  God's timing is everything.

As you go through the various changes in life, know that your life is like the changes of the seasons.  There is a reason and a purpose for all things.  Walk with God and allow Him to direct you through your own changes of seasons!

Moose Loose

Monday was a beautiful morning in Colorado.  The sky was blue with no clouds to be seen and the light breeze made the temperature perfect.  My husband and I were out for our morning walk when we passed a man with binoculars.  With excitement in the man's voice, he asked us if we had seen the moose in the wetland area.  I was thinking "sure". 

We live in a residential area.  I have been to Yellowstone about ten times and I have never seen a moose.  The man proceeded to tell us that there were two moose and they were laying in the cattails of the wetlands just right around the corner.

With speed, I rushed to the area where these "supposed" moose were.  When I got to the area, there were about ten people standing around with cameras, their phones and binoculars.  Amazingly, they were about twenty feet from where I stood.    The two moose were laying butt to butt chewing on the vegetation.  They were oblivious to the people.

They were probably thinking, why can't these creatures move on and allow us to enjoy the area.  I guess we were like paparazzi.

We stood around and observed them and chit-chatted with the neighbors.  No one could believe that there were two moose right in our backyard.

As we walked home, a lady standing on her balcony told us that she and her husband walked outside that morning with their coffee and here were these two moose walking through the wetlands.  That definitely would have been a sight to see.

When I got home, I texted and phoned other neighbors to let them know about the moose.

The next day we read that moose are rejected by their mother to live on their own by the age of 1.  These two were probably siblings and that they had followed a drainage from the mountains to the town of Loveland.  I guess they needed some "love".

Parks and Wildlife arrived and tranquilized them so they could relocate them to an area where they would be safe from the paparazzi, cars, etc.  That would have been another sight to see.  The moose probably weighed about 750 pounds each.

Another day in the "land of love"!  You never know what you will see next!

Encouragement

Who doesn't like to be encouraged?  Everyone likes to hear, "you did a great job" or "you are very talented" and the list goes on and on.  Everyone needs encouragement at one time or another.

One of the most well-known encourager in the Bible is Barnabas.  Barnabas was chosen to spread the gospel.  He was drawn to people he could encourage and he helped those who were around him.  Barnabas' life shows us that we are all in situations where we can encourage someone.

So often, we want to criticize someone instead of encouraging.  Barnabas understood that the best way of helping someone or building their trust, you need to lift people up instead of bringing them down.

There are so many verses in the Bible that encourage.  Here are at least three verses.

Isaiah 40:31 - "But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

Isaiah 43:2 - "When you pass through the waters,  I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.  When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze."

Joshua 1:9 - "Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous.  Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."

As you begin a new week, I want you to take time to share a smile; help someone and even share some encouraging words.  Also, write down some of these verses on a notecard and just pass them on.  You never know how these words could change someone's life.

Be a Barnabas!  Encourage someone today!

Devotion

Mary Magdalene and the other women were devoted to Jesus.  On the day that Jesus was crucified, they stayed at the cross when the disciples fled.  Jesus was everything to them.  They had been following Jesus and listening to Him as he shared the words of God to others.

These women did not worry about what they couldn't do.  They just took advantage of the opportunities of what they could do.  Because of their devotion to Jesus, God had blessed them.  They were the first witnesses to the resurrection.

So often we are worried about what we could do instead of realizing that all Jesus wants is for us to be devoted to Him. 

How much time do you spend with God and meditating on His word?
Are you setting aside time to read the Bible and to pray?
Are you aware of His presence?

If you want situations to be different in your life, you need to spend time and be devoted to Him.

"Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth."
Psalms 46:10

Unselfish

Who do you know that is unselfish? 

When I think of unselfish, I think of people that are bighearted, charitable, freehearted, openhanded and very generous.  These are normally people that are filled with gratitude.  They want to do so much for others.

How much we love God can be measured by how well we treat others.  Even though others may not see what we do for someone, God will always know.

In the book of Esther, she risked her life to save her people.  Esther was married to King Xerxes.  One day Haman, the king's assistant, became angry with the Jews and he issued a proclamation to condemn all the Jews to death.  Esther who was also Jewish, knew that she could not go before the king unless she was called for.  Esther knew that she needed to go before the king and let him know what his assistant had done. She called for a fast and asked the Jews to pray for God's help on her dangerous mission. On the day that she chose to go before the King, he did ask her to come forward and speak.  She had several meetings with the King.  At her last meeting with the King, she let him know that someone had plotted to destroy her and her people.  Haman was killed and the Jews were guaranteed protection.

Because of Esther's unselfishness, the Jewish nation was saved  God had given her an opportunity and she knew what she had to do.  Her life did make a difference. 

We all can make a difference. As Esther's uncle told her, "for if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish.  And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"

God may want to use you in a situation.  Don't be selfish and not do anything.  Always remember God may have placed you where you are for a reason.

Trusting

When I hear the word trust, the two words faith and hope come to mind.

Trusting is the 'firm belief in the truth, ability or strength of someone or something".  How often have you heard the words "trust me"?  We have all trusted someone in our life.  Believing someone was there for us.

In the Bible, trust is used throughout.  One particular story is about a father whose son was possessed by demons and the father wanted his son to be healed.  Jesus told him that his son could be healed, but he needed to believe and to trust Him.  The father did trust Jesus.  To have the trust and confidence that the son could be healed, the father needed to have faith.  The man believed and his son was healed.

But what happens when we trust and believe that Jesus can heal or provide something and it doesn't happen?  That is where our faith comes in and we know that God will provide in His timing.  As human beings, we like to take matters into our own hands.  We want it to happen, now!  Things may work out, but sometimes there are consequences to our actions.  These consequences happen because we aren't willing to wait on God and His timing.

When things happen, we need to learn to trust God.

"Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid."  Isaiah 12:2
We need to express our gratitude to God by thanking Him, praising Him and telling others about Him.

As I look at this sunset, I know that God allows the sun to rise and the sun to set.  Today is the day to start trusting that God is in control.

I Love the Word IMPOSSIBLE

In the 70's, I read the book I Love the Word Impossible by Ann Kiemel.  That book made a great impression on my life.  Throughout the book, Ann talked about dreaming big and believing that God can make a difference in my world.

At the time, I was going through so many struggles.  I was alone, I lived in a city that I knew no one, I was taking classes and I was looking for a job.  I just wanted to throw my hands up and say, I can't do it.  The word impossible gave me hope.  I was going to believe that God could give me the peace and strength that I needed and that I could do the impossible.

Throughout the Bible, God performed the impossible.  In the book of Genesis, God did the impossible. Who would have believed that Abraham, who was 100 years old and Sarah, who was 90, would give birth to a son, Isaac.  Doing the impossible is everyday business for God.  Our big problems will not seem so impossible if we will only allow God to make them possible.

Even in the book of Luke, Zechariah and his wife, Elizabeth, were past the age of childbearing, God provided them a child, John the Baptist.  God's power is not confined by human limitations.  I know that as humans we doubt something, especially if we can't see it or because no one else has ever done it.  But God is so much bigger than we can even imagine.

Throughout the years, God has proved the impossible in so many ways.  One of the most impossible stories is the birth of my nephew, Graham and the big heart that he has.  He was born with a genetic situation and the doctors said that he would never crawl, walk, talk... and probably would not live to the age of three.  Here he is, almost 21 and he continues to prove to the world that he is one of the impossible.  He does have a lot of limitations compared to what the world would think, but to my family, he is the one that continues to help us believe in a God that loves the word impossible.

When I think of gratitude, I think of impossible and how we need to be believe!

Thankfulness

There have been so many articles written on "Being Thankful".  I wonder why we are always having to be reminded to be thankful.  I do believe it is human nature.  It seems we are always wanting something that we don't have.  That is very sad!

The Israelites were always very unhappy.  God had delivered them from the hands of the Pharaoh and helped them to escape from Egypt.  The Israelites didn't remember what God had done for them and was doing for them.  They were set free, they were making a new nation and they were going to live in a new land.  They were so dissatisfied in what God hadn't done for them.

Aren't we just like the the Israelites?  We seem to forget about what God has provided for us.  I seem to forget about the time that God provided a car for me because the car I had no longer was driveable or how about the time I was depressed and I needed a friend and He provided that friend to give me the encouragement that I needed.  Once I stop and think about it, God has provided for me and has protected me in situations that could have gone wrong.

As I have talked about the word grateful.  I need to realize I have so much to be thankful for.  We do forget about our gifts of life, food, health, family and friends.

Are we thankful for what God has done for us or we mad for what He hasn't done for us?  We don't need to reflect on what we don't have, but we need to remember what we do have.

"I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart; before the gods.
I face your holy Temple, bow down and praise your name because of your constant love and faithfulness, because you have shown that your name and your commands are supreme.
You answered me when I called to you; with your strength you strengthened me."
Psalms 138:1-3

The picture reminds me that I need to take time, relax and list all my blessings. I do have a lot to be thankful for!

Attitude for Gratitude

How do we feel about gratitude?  Should we be thankful?  Do you have a positive or a negative attitude? 

I believe in a positive attitude.  I feel if your behavior, your beliefs and your emotions are positive, then you are going to have a better outlook on your life, your surroundings and your future. 

I have been known for my "Pollyanna Outook".  In 1913, Eleanor H. Porter wrote the book Pollyanna.  It was about a young lady who played the "glad game" - trying to find something to be glad about in every situation. 

With the Pollyanna principle, research finds that at the subconscious level, the mind has a tendency to focus on the optimistic; while at the conscious level, it has a tendency to focus on the negative. 

An individual reaps more joy and happiness when they look at life with more positive results.  When you are looking positive at a bad situation that is happening, it doesn't mean that you are avoiding the circumstances.  You just know that God has a bigger plan in your life and that He is allowing all things to work for you, not against you.

Romans 8:28 states "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."  God works in all situations, not just particular incidents, for our good.  Evil(bad situations) are a part of the world that we live in, but God is here for us. 

When you have the right attitude, you will be more thankful for everything that is happening around you.  Opportunities are there.  We just have to open our eyes to see them.

Take the time to observe people's attitudes.  I bet you will see that when individuals handle their situations in a more positive manner, the results are going to be so different than someone who handles the exact same situation in a negative manner. 

The attitude of gratitude needs to be practiced everyday, not just once a year(at Thanksgiving).  Instead of looking at things that are not right in life, begin to have the "Pollyanna Outlook".  It could give you the joy that you are looking for in life.

As I look at this photo of the Great Blue Heron, I know that he is thinking that there is a fish out there in the water, he just needs to be patient and have a great attitude.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

As I think about the word, R-E-S-P-E-C-T, I think back to 1967 when Aretha Franklin sang this song.  It was Aretha's first number one hit and this song established her as the Queen of Soul.

People have been wanting respect for a long time, even before 1967.  Even God demanded respect from Moses.  God had spoken to Moses from a burning bush.

"God called to him from within the bush, "Moses! Moses!  And Moses said, "Here I am." "Do not come any closer", God said.  "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground"."  Exodus 3:4-5

I believe that our society has forgotten what it means to respect someone.  To me respect means giving that person the attention that they need, to admire them, to show an interest in what they are saying or doing, showing courtesy and so much more.

It seems that everyone wants to state their opinion(s), but they don't want to respect others in what their view or judgment may be.  We all have strong opinions about certain topics, especially when it comes to politics, religion, raising kids and the list goes on and on and on.

Do you show respect?  It is hard to respect someone when they have treated us badly.  How often have you heard, "I would show them some respect, if they respected me".

Respect begins with each person, stepping out and be willing to listen before reacting.  By listening, it makes you stop and think, "Is this something that I need to argue about"?  It probably isn't!  By hearing what others have to say, it sometimes broadens your own views.

As God wants you to respect Him, He also wants you to respect others.

Take time this week and show respect to God and to others around you.

Remember God gave you one mouth to speak and two ears to listen!

A Grateful Heart

When was the last time that you were grateful for something?

I believe that we all have something to be thankful for, but we just don't take the time to express it.  It seems as if we spend more time on thinking about what we don't have have or how some one treated us.

Let's do reserve psychology.  Let today be the day that you begin to "count your blessings" instead of thinking "I deserve that".  The truth is "what do we deserve?"  Society has planted the seeds that life is all about you, when the truth is life is not all about us.

Ponder on the word "grateful".  The dictionary states that grateful means "feeling or showing an appreciation of kindness; appreciative of benefits received or expressing gratitude".

Let's look at what we can be grateful for:

You are alive.
You can speak.
You can read.
You have an education.
You have a warm home.
You have food to eat.
You have a job.
You have a family......

As you can see, the list could go on and on.  Yes, there are people that may have more money than you, maybe they have a large house and a high-paying job or even a family, but the question is "what do you have?"

I just recently read about an exchange student that was having to take a bus to get anywhere.  He said that his friends, who had cars, couldn't believe that he would take the bus.  He said that he was thankful to take a bus because back home there was no transportation and he had to walk everywhere he went.

Life is simple.  We are the ones who make life more complicated than it is.

There are so many slogans are out there.  My slogan is "I choose today to be a grateful day".  What is yours?

Gratitude

It is hard to believe that it is the middle of March and Easter Sunday is in 2 weeks.

As I walked through the neighborhood, there was a chill in the air, but I could feel the warmth of the sun and there was a clear blue sky before me.  Even though the grass was brown and there were no leaves on the trees, I heard the birds chirping and I saw a glimmer of spring.  The little yellow flowers popping out of the ground gave me hope that a new season of life was before me.  

It seems like that everything that you read is an "attitude of hatred".  What happened to the "attitude of gratitude"?

"In all things give thanks!"  1 Thessalonians 5:18

Our society is teaching us that the "world owes us", "I deserve this", "what about me?" and the list goes on.  People are hurting others by bullying, intimidating... and even have gone to the extreme of killing others because of depression, loneliness, insecurity, hatred and so much more.

Just recently I was talking to a friend about joy and how I had felt that I had lost the joy that I once had.  She reminded me that joy comes from within.  I can't buy it and no one can give it to me.  She stated that each day, I needed to list three things that I was thankful for.

That got me to thinking.  Was I really thanking God each day or was I being upset because I didn't have something that somebody else had or was I was having a "poor me" attitude.

Once I started looking at what I had to be thankful for, my whole attitude began to change.

Some things that I am thankful for are my legs to walk(so I can get my 10,000+ steps each day), my eyes to see(the beautiful mountains that surround me) and my ears to hear(my dad has lost 95% of his hearing and can't hear the birds chirping).  The list goes on.  

What are you grateful for?  Who have you told lately that you are thankful for them?

As I think about gratitude, this is what comes to mind.

G = grateful

R = respect

A = attitude

T = thankfulness

I = impossible

T = trust

U = unselfish

D = devotion

E = encouragement

With Easter in two weeks, this is the time to reflect on our lives and to think about what is the true meaning of Easter?

Begin today by writing down three things that you are thankful for!  I do believe that a little glimmer of hope will begin to blossom in your own life.

Sunday Morning Worship

I sit here at my desk looking out at the almost blizzard conditions.  The snow is falling rapidly and the wind is blowing from the north.  Snow is collecting on the blue spruce trees and covering the yard and street.

The only movement that I see is my neighbor shoveling snow, a rabbit hopping from one rock to the next trying to find shelter and the American flag fluttering in the wind.

It is Sunday morning.  I am normally at church, but I chose to stay at home due to the icy, snowy streets.  I enjoy going to my church because it is a place that I feel my faith is renewed and my joy is restored. 

Today I am renewing my faith and restoring my joy by sitting inside my warm, cozy home and reading God's word.  I know that my faith is renewed by having my quiet time and being still so that I can feel His presence.

Psalms 9:1-2 says "I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wanders. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name."  As I praise God, I am helping myself by expanding my awareness of who He is.

I may not be able to go to church, but I can still worship and praise Him in my own home. 

"Be still and listen to Him as He whispers."

Enjoy your Sunday!

The Voice Within

I love music!  It can be vocal, piano, orchestra, etc.  There is something about hearing someone sing a sing that tells a story or listening to a person play the keyboards on the piano.

I am not a singer or a concert pianist.  When I was younger, I did take a couple of years of piano.  I could sit and listen to someone playing the piano all day long.

There is an enjoyment of listening to someone sing.  I especially love music where someone tells a story and you can feel the emotions that they are going through.

I did try singing in the church choir, but I felt that I couldn't carry a tune.  I felt embarrassed.  So of course, I quit. Growing up, my personality was if I couldn't be good at it, I would just no longer do it.  As I have gotten older, I have tried to stick with something and keep on persevering even when I wanted to throw up my arms and say no more.

With maturity, I have learned that sometimes you have to go through valleys to reach the mountains.

I have a friend who told me that everyone can sing.  They just have to find their voice. Last week, I took my first voice lesson.  My instructor began the class with talking about what I wanted to accomplish from these lessons.  The one thing I want to accomplish is to be able to sing with friends and not to feel embarrass about my singing.

It was an aha moment when I realized how important it is to exercise the voice.  How do I stand and how do I breathe?  We did some stretches with the body, with the neck area, the jaw, etc.  We focused on warming up with vowels.

I am beginning to discover that learning to sing is like exercising my body.  I need to have cardio and weights to tone up.

After my first two weeks, I still feel embarrassed.  There are demons that tell me "Why are you doing this?  You are sixty-four.  You will never be able to carry a tune."

I am banishing those demons.  Rome wasn't built in a day.  I will practice.  I will keep putting one foot in front of the other.

I am sixty-four, but I do have a lot of life in front of me.  Who knows, maybe I could be the next candidate for the "The Voice"? 

A Snowy Day!

There was a smile on my face as I rocked in my rocker and sipped on my creme brulee coffee.  It was snowing!  I enjoy a snowy day.  Especially a snowy day where you don't have to go anywhere.

Today I had permission to stay at home and to enjoy the moment.  The huge flakes collected on the ground as it became a wintery landscape.

As I enjoyed my second cup of steaming, hot coffee, I read this verse, Isaiah 1:18 - "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord; though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool".

We all have sinned(we have missed the mark).  No one is perfect.  Our sins are like the stains(crimson color) that we can't remove.  It is only through Jesus that our lives can become pure(white as snow).  

I know I will never be perfect, but I do know that with Jesus in my life I have those days where it is like a snowy day and I can rest in His hands.  I know He wants me to rest in His hands daily.  This is something that I will work on, "to let go and to let God".

Today, I will rest in His arms and allow Him to fill me with His love and His spirit!

It is Winter!

As I looked at the weather app this morning, I could feel my body shivering.  The temp read 15 degrees.  Brrrr!!!!!! I thought to myself "it is winter"!

Just this week, this collage of photos that I took about a year ago of the area that I live in, popped up.  This helped me to remember that it is the "season of winter".  In most areas(unless you live in Hawaii), winter means cold temperatures and snow.

Winter in Colorado is all about the colder temperatures and snow in the mountains for the skiers.

When I look at this collage, I see the winter photos and then I see the one photo, which is another season. It is the season of later summer and early autumn.

These photos make me think of life.  One of my favorite authors, Charles Swindoll, wrote these words "our journey begins in the winter, a season of quite reverence.  This is followed by spring, a season of refreshing and encouraging renewal.  Then comes summer, a season of enjoyable and much-needed rest.  Finally, we'll stroll through autumn, a season of nostalgic reflection."

Isn't that how life is?  So as I begin a new year during the months of winter, I know that whatever I go through God has another season waiting for me. May I allow God to escort me through the seasons of life.  Even if I go through a storm, He is wanting me to build deeper roots, so that I can have a stronger life.

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven."  Ecclesiastes 3:1

You Only Have 3 Hours in Singapore!

Singapore Changi Airport is one of the largest transportation hubs in Southeast Asia.  It is one of the world's busiest airports by international passengers and cargo traffic. 

There are so many people that fly through Singapore on a daily basis and have long layovers before heading to their final destination.

If you had three to five hours to see Singapore, I would recommend that you tour Singapore on the "Hop-On/Hop-Off" Red Bus.  One of the places that you can visit is the Gardens by the Bay.

It is a nature park consisting of 250 acres.  There are three waterfront gardens:  Bay South Garden, Bay East Garden and Bay Central Garden. 

The day that my husband and I were at the Gardens, we visited the Flower Dome area and the Cloud Forest area.  We were able to get there right when it opened.  It was nice because we got there before the crowds.

As we walked into the Cloud Forest, you could feel the coolness of the area and smell the fresh water from the 115 feet waterfall.  This is the world's largest indoor waterfall.  Walking around in this huge greenhouse, the lush vegetation was surrounded by beautiful, colorful plants, orchids, ferns and trees.  As I walked across the bridges in the dome, I felt that I was walking through the Amazon rainforest.

After enjoying the Cloud Forest, we headed to the Flower Dome.  This dome is also a gigantic air-conditioned glass greenhouse with many exotic plants .  Since it was Christmas, the dome was decorated with poinsettias, Santa's Workshop and many Christmas trees.  Also in the area was a thousand-year-old olive trees and unusual Baobabs of the cool-dry Mediterranean and subtropical regions.

Another area to visit is the OCBC Skyway and Supertree Grove.  You can enjoy dramatic vertical plant displays.  There was also a 73 feet OCBC Skyway.  Since I don't care for heights, I didn't walk across.

So if you have limited time in Singapore, I would definitely recommend visiting the Gardens by the Bay.  It would be a great way to relax and to enjoy your surroundings!

Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia

Today as I was going through my photos of my recent trip to Southeast Asia, I reflected on the many places and events that we experienced.

One particular event that I remember is the day that we docked at Kota Kinabalu(KK).  The passengers were glad to be on land.  The day before we had been at sea and had ridden the rocky ocean with swells from 3 feet to 12 feet.  A deadly tropical cyclone, Typhoon Tembin, had impacted the southern part of the Philippines and the Sapphire Princess got to feel and endure the path of the typhoon.  I was seasick some, but there were other passengers that never left their cabin.

I was happy that I had signed up for a tour and that I was going to be on land for several hours.  About thirty-two passengers climbed aboard the bus and our tour guide began to give us some history of KK.  KK is on the South China Sea and is the state capital of Sabah.  The main contribution for the prosperity of the area is from oil and gas.  Shell has a large office located in the downtown area.  Palm oil, tourism and coffee/tea also play a big part for the economy. 

Our guide gave some other facts.  The population for Sabah is approximately 3 million compared to the population of Malaysia which is about 30 million.  Within Malaysia there are 32 different races with about 18 different languages that are spoken.

As we drove through the city, the main thing that I noticed that there were areas of poverty with wealth of large homes or condos across the street.   Since KK is on the water, it is surrounded by palm trees and beaches and the beautiful ocean.

KK has some unique buildings, such as the Federal Building and the Tun Mustapha Tower.  This stunning 30-story glass tower is suspended from high tensile steel rods surrounding a central core.

On our way to the Sabah Museum, we drove past the State Mosque, which has five golden domes.

Arriving at the Sabah Museum, we visited the Heritage Village.  We experienced the different types of traditional houses of the various groups of Sabah.  The one hut that we went into had human skulls hanging from the ceiling.  To marry a Chief's daughter, the warrior had to present to the Chief, seven human skulls.  After roaming through the Village, we then headed to the museum to see the history of the Malaysia area.

Before heading back to the ship, the bus stopped at the market. In the market, there were clothing, unique, fresh vegetables, fruit and seafood.

Another day of traveling in Southeast Asia and seeing how others live!  To understand people, one must understand where they come from!

Faith = Living

As the rising sun promises me a new day, a new beginning, it also promises me that my life is all about living!

I have to have faith each morning as I place my feet on the floor.  Knowing, that is what my body does, it  moves forward.  I don't have to stop and think, "do I put one foot in front of the other or do I bend before I walk".  It is a process.  I just do it.  That is faith!

Living is what God wants me to do.  By living, I know God.  As I read God's word and allow Him to be a part of my life, I allow Him to grow closer to me.

A lot of us talk about faith, but do our lives reflect how God wants us to live it! 

I look at the soft blue sky, seeing the whispers of the clouds and the majestic colors of orange, pink and some yellow across the horizon and I know that God wants me to step out in faith and to live the life that He has given me.

Faith = Goals

About forty years ago, I was going through a time in my life searching for what is my purpose?, who am I? and what is life all about?  That searching took me to a church that helped me to begin to understand God and what was His goal for me?

I began to memorize scripture and to study God's word, The Bible.

One of my first verses that I memorized was Hebrews 11:1, "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."  This is a very powerful verse.

As I begin the new year of 2018, faith and goals have been coming to mind.  When we think of a new year, we always think of goals.  A new year is a new beginning and a great time to make changes in your life.

I have been reading about other's goals, such as they want to lose weight, they want to quit smoking, they want to be a better person, they want to travel the world, etc.  So what are my goals?

My goal is to allow God to work in my life.  For God to work in my life, He needs to make changes.  He needs to work on my character, my health, my spiritual walk, my attitude and my love for others.

To have goals is to have faith.  Faith is believing when you don't see it, but it is also obeying when you don't understand.  Isn't that what goals are all about?  With goals, sometimes you are thinking there is no way that I could do that, I'm stupid for even thinking I could do that.  It will take too long to make a change.

If we don't put the goals out there, how can we ever make changes?  A blind man went to Jesus.  Jesus asked him "What do you want me to do for you?"  Jesus knew what the man wanted, but He wanted him to verbalize it.  By verbalizing what he wanted, he was having faith that God would heal him.  His goal was to see.

I am stepping out in faith and putting these goals out there.  One goal is to sing, to have a "Voice".  A friend once told me that everybody has the capability to sing.  Some are born with a natural, beautiful voices but others need to practice and to learn how to carry a note.  At times I think, I am too old to learn how to sing, but I realize I am not too old.  Today is a new day.   God will give me the strength to believe in myself.  Also with learning how to sing, I believe it will give me confidence.

Another goal is to find a ministry of assisting others.  There are so many ministries out there.  I want to find that ministry that will bring joy to my life and make an impact to others.

Of course, I want to continue making smart choices in my health, such as exercising and eating foods that will be nutritious for me.  The brain is so important.  I will keep my brain active by reading, playing sudoku, words with friends and maybe even learning a new language.  What that language will be, I am not for sure?

The most important goal is to be positive vs. negative in how I interact with others.  I want others to see the greatness in their own lives.  I want them to see how Jesus can take control of their lives and help them to be the best possible person that they can be.  It is all about encouraging others.

So what is something that you want to do this year?  What is something that you believe is not possible?  Is there a relationship out there that you want to be better?  Is there a new job opportunity that you want?

Mark 11:22 = "Have faith in God". 

Matthew 9:29 = "Because of your faith, it will happen."

The new year has just started.  Set some goals, have some faith!

Discovering New Friends!

People always ask me, "What do I enjoy most on a trip?"  My reply is "Discovering New Friends."

The trip that I just took was definitely about meeting and making new friends.

I always enjoy the sightseeing and being a part of an area, but the true understanding of the culture is by talking to the locals and finding out about their family, jobs, education, hobbies, their favorite foods and what makes them tick.

Some of the people that I got to know had such interesting backgrounds.  One of our tour guides from Vietnam has been a tour guide for several years.  She works two jobs so that she is able to afford her own home.  She is a tour guide and also works in telecommunication.  Her immediate family lives in the rural area, but she enjoys being in the big city.  Her means of transportation is her motorbike, as she is not able to afford a car.

A young lady that works on the ship is twenty-nine and has two degrees.  A degree in economics and her other degree is in law.  My question to her was "Why do you work on the ship?"  Her reply was that in her country, she would only be paid about $300 a month, even though she has two degrees.  What an eye opener?  I sometimes forget about all the opportunities that I have available to earn a decent income.

A couple that I met are currently working with the Aboriginals in Australia.  The wife works in the office and her husband works for the school driving the bus and cooking the lunches.  They have been doing this for a couple of years.  Before this opportunity, they operated their own sheep farm.  It is always interesting to hear about the occupations of others and how they obtained these jobs.

There was the great staff at the Executive Lounge at the hotel that my husband and I stayed at in Singapore.  This team of workers were so kind.  The way they treated you, you felt like royalty.  The team leader always had a smile on his face and he respected the other staff members.  One morning, the lounge was serving a particular fruit that I had never seen or eaten.  This man took the time to explain that it was "Dragon Fruit" and was from the Vietnam and Thailand area.  The fruit had a hard red shell and the inside meat was white with black seeds.   I explained that I had never seen this fruit before.  About fifteen minutes later, he brought me the actual fruit and said he wanted me to have it.  One thing that I have always noticed is that most people enjoy explaining their culture and they want others to embrace it.

My list could be lengthy regarding all of the interesting people that I met.  It just shows me what happens when you open up and allow yourself to get to know people.

One thing that I do know is that my Christmas Card list has grown from 300 to 320!

The Best of Bangkok

My time was limited in Bangkok and I definitely wanted to tour the city.

At 7 a.m., the Sapphire Princess docked at Laem Chabang, Thailand's largest port.  The passengers on the ship were anxious to get off as we only had a day to tour Bangkok and it was a 2 1/2 hour drive to the city.

Our guide greeted us with a smile and a genuine friendliness and warmth.  One of Thailand's nicknames is the "Land of Smiles".  She apologized for the weather being cold and rainy.  Normally the weather in December is hot and humid.

On the drive into the city, our guide told us that Bangkok was founded in 1782 by the first monarch of the Chakri dynasty.

It is located on the delta of the Chao Phraya River, about 25 miles(40 km) from the Gulf of Thailand.  The population is approximately 14 million.

As we approached Bangkok, you could see that this city has a cosmopolitan image.  Tourism rose during the Vietnam War, as this city became a popular destination of the U.S. military personnel.

There was much traffic.  Highways and overpasses and toll booths were everywhere.  I felt that I was on a highway in Houston, Dallas or New York.

As we inched along the expressways, we finally made it to the Chao Phraya River.  We boarded a riverboat for a scenic cruise along the canals. I now understood why the city is known as the "Venice of the East".  From the riverboat, we caught glimpses of Wat Arun, the Temple of the Dawn and the Grand Palace.  The river was crowded with restaurants and retail stores.

After the cruise, we headed to the Grand Palace.  King Rama I built this magnificent walled city in 1782, and each succeeding monarch added his personal stamp to the grounds.  The beauty of the compound is breathless.  The creativity and craftsmanship of the Thai people is unbelievable.

In 1956, Yul Brynner won the Academy Award for his portrayal of King Mongkut(Rama IV), who ruled from 1851 to 1868.  The movie "The King and I" was banned in Thailand and remains banned due to its representation of King Mongkut of Siam.

After spending about an hour or so at the Palace, we then headed to a restaurant for a beautiful Thai meal.

Before we headed back to the ship, we then went to Wat Traimit, Temple of the Golden Buddha.  Carved in the Sukothai style from over five and a half tons of solid gold, the seated Buddha is more than 15 feet tall.  Cast during the 13th century, it was long covered in plaster to hide its worth from thieves.  It wasn't until 1955, when the statue was accidentally dropped, that a piece of plaster chipped off revealing the gold underneath.

There are so many temples to explore and shops to discover.  On my next trip to Bangkok, I want to ride on the "tuk-tuk".  This is a three-wheeled, small motor-tricycle.  The comical name comes from the sound the engine makes while operating.

It was almost 5 o'clock and we needed to be back to the ship by 7 pm.  Even though it had rained all day, I was glad that I took the time to discover Bangkok.  There is so much history and beauty in this city!