I read this and found a likeness to my life.

I walked away. I once walked into a room where a couple of my friends were talking about me and they didn’t know I was there. I shook my head, smiled and walked away. I once had a best friend who talked badly about me, and never knew that I found out.... I never mentioned it. I just smiled and walked away from that friendship. A couple of family members chose to shift me out of their life because I stood up for myself for a change. And because I stopped crossing oceans for them when they would not even jump over a puddle for me. I smiled, shook my head and walked away. I was once in a relationship where I was always put last, no matter what I did for them. At that very moment, I realized that someone's effort directly reflects their interest in you. So, I walked away and never looked back. Someone asked me how I could just walk away from people who betrayed me while pretending to be significant. I said that every time I came to a crossroads like that, I had to decide who would be going forward on my journey with me. This showed me who I cannot take along with me. You should never get mad at someone who betrays you, even in the name of friendship or family. Just gracefully bow out and enjoy your journey and remember ... the moment you start to wonder if you deserve better. You do. ~ Cody Bret

 

I want to add...God. God opens and closes doors to protect me and guides me to goodness in those I have in my life, good places for me to serve, good opportunities to take action as his hands and feet in a broken world. If I am constantly worrying about if others like me or how they hurt me, I can't possibly be stirred into God's plan for my life. It happens. People don't like me (I try) and they hurt my feelings, but I've got a Savior that salvages and shines me up vintage. He allows me forgiveness and the peace of pure love. He lets me walk away, often moving me when I can't, and creates beauty in the ashes. He can heal relationships and sometimes won't, but He alone is my ride or die. The only One I trust with my fragile self. God is so very good to me.

 

 

 

I am a firm believer that prayer changes things. It has been evident throughout my life that the Holy Spirit moves within me and takes me to places that bring me great suffering and abundant joy. If you asked me where my favorite place to go might be, I would tell you wherever God is working the miracle. Prayer is where I get to be involved.

I have tried several ways throughout the years to keep up with those that God places on my heart to pray for. For a while, I have kept my "watch God work book," and it has been my most productive way to keep up with the entries.

This little book can be used over and over. It is 5 x 7, and I use small sticky notes for the entries.

Entries that had a specific time frame are removed and stacked inside the front cover. If continued prayer is needed, then they are listed separately within the pages.

A typical page looks like this...

When someone I am praying for transitions into the presence of Jesus they get a heart and a place in the back pages of the journal. There will be another entry to pray for their loved ones that remains for a time in the pages.

I don't know how you keep up with your prayer life. I'm interested to hear. Maybe this way will encourage you. I pray so.

This photo of Ushka's loves (before the boy) was taken nearly ten years ago. You blink and they are grown. We have three teenagers and one who thinks she is. They are loved!!!

Today, Susan and I went to J. & D.'s Art Time in Downtown Plainview to get crafty with glass.

They offer open art hours where you can stop in and create your choice of art mediums, but they also provide a fun time for groups...even two of us. This is great for business leaders to enjoy with employees, birthday parties, guys groups, couples, and ladies' day or night out. They have step-by-step painting, marbling on canvas, glass pieces like we did, and so much more! A fun family outing, too!!!

We had a fun time. Thank you, J. & D.'s Art Time of Plainview!

He heals the brokenhearted
    and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3

Yesterday, I was inspired to create another 6 X 6 art piece with a stitched-up heart. It was Valentine's Day, and my heart was heavy for those who grieve losses.

Happy Valentine's Day since 1973 ...

I have been doing a great deal of studying on the millennium. A few scriptures that have brought me tremendous peace and a longing for eternity in a new way are found in the book of Isaiah 11:6-9.

6 The wolf will dwell with the lamb,
and the leopard will lie down with the goat.
The calf, the young lion, and the fattened calf will be together,
and a child will lead them.
⁷ The cow and the bear will graze,
their young ones will lie down together,
and the lion will eat straw like cattle.
⁸ An infant will play beside the cobra’s pit,
and a toddler will put his hand into a snake’s den.
⁹ They will not harm or destroy each other
on my entire holy mountain,
for the land will be as full
of the knowledge of the Lord
as the sea is filled with water.

Peace.

The tearing of the veil symbolizes the removal of the barrier between God and humanity. It signifies the new covenant, which allows believers to approach God directly through Jesus. 

Matthew 27:51, Suddenly, the curtain of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom, the earth quaked, and the rocks were split.

He did it all for us, for you. Do you know him? Jesus is still calling today. You are loved and seen by Jesus who calls us unto him.

My entire life, I have known that I was a little off the beaten path from normal. When I create, my "little off" will be reflected in some way. My organized, straight-lined self fights with my creative mind's eye. I never know what will come from it.

I started the 6:6 collection, and I have really enjoyed creating them. The 6:6 comes from the size of the canvas and 1 Timothy...

But godliness with contentment is great gain. 1 Timothy 6:6

This afternoon, as I watched a grand-sister dance, I created "dog tired" because sometimes my mind is pulled in so many directions and I grow weary, but my Peace remains steadfast...my great gain.

Fishing was a big part of my grandfather's life; Clinton's dad did his fair share of it, too. We enjoyed fried fish several times a year. Our kids enjoyed fishing with their Bo and TC. Here is a photo of my brother's daughter, Chelsie, Aaron, and Chrissa, fishing in New Mexico.