Be Still and Know

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New Years and Resolutions are upon us.  You can't not see reminders of it all over the internet and social media.  Weight loss goals, financial goals, fitness goals, educational goals.  I like, everyone else, want to start fresh at the beginning of the year.  Over the past several years, I have participated in one word or one little word resolutions.  It's a much simpler way of doing things, focusing on that one word in all aspects of my life.   Words can be very powerful, especially as we ponderize and internalize.

I have chosen words that I really needed at the time and learned much from over the past years.  Some examples of words I have chosen in the past are:

Simplify
Gratitude
Brave
Loved

This year a scripture keeps resonating with me, and I can't quite keep it to one word.  Psalms 46:10

"Be still and know that I am God."  

I almost feel as if this simple scripture encapsulates every one word I have used in the past.

2016 is a year of spiritual growth for me.  While, yes, I have some fitness and weight goals, too, 'Be Still and Know that I am God" sits first and foremost in my mind and heart.

What is your one word or goal for the year?

 

He Spoke

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Do you ever feel like God is calling you?  Whispering to you from, well, everywhere?  I am hearing and seeing His call everywhere I turn and in everything I read.  I tell you, He is not happy with me.  I almost feel like a chastised child.  My Father is shaking his finger and me, and saying 'NO'.  You see, he heard I wanted to quit blogging, but His message is 'NO'.

I read a couple of things on the internet lately that had me wanting to yell at Him.  "I hear You!!", "I got the message!".

I read an article by Hannah Boning on (in)courage called "When I Sit On the Couch And Am Silent". She said, "Your words matter. Your experience matters. Your story matters. Your thoughts matter. You matter." She said this and I heard Him.

Another time, well the same day actually, I was reading from Chad R. Allen's blog, "The Best Way to Find Time for Your Art." In truth, I had never thought about blogging as my "art", but I am creating and writing so I guess it is art. He basically says, that if you don't do your art, no one will know but you, but in the end you'll be unfulfilled. Pretty smart words, and when he said this, I felt like He was whispering yet again.

While reading Nienie, she impressed the importance of preserving our stories at the RootsTech 2014 conference.  She said on her blog, "I think it is important to keep an account of your family whether you blog, scrapbook, take photos or videos -whatever you do tell your story and don't stop."

Sometimes these witnesses come in twos, sometimes in threes and sometimes as many times as it takes to get it through our thick brains. "I got the message!" "I hear You!" I hang my head in resignation and return to blogging with joy, love and acceptance of His desire for me.




 

Back Pain AKA a Spiritual Experience

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The last few months have been a difficult experience for me.  I'm not going to complain about my back pain, I've done that before, but I am going to share an experience that I felt was spiritual in nature related to my back pain.

Back a few years ago, I receive a blessing that stated that I would live a life relatively free from pain as long as I was faithful.  That is a blessing I have always truly treasured.  What could be better?  Free from pain!  But, recently, I had found my faith in Him wavering as I struggled with this back pain.  I didn't understand how I could serve Him, be faithful and still have this back pain.  I just didn't get it.  What did I do wrong?  What wasn't I doing?

When I had my MRI and three bulging discs were discovered, my doctor said to me, "I don't know how you aren't in more pain than you are!"  I mean, I get up every day...Shower, perform a chore or two, I had figured out a way to cook dinner while sitting on a stool in the kitchen.  I was still doing and trying to be cheerful despite my issue.  He mentioned that a lot of people with bulging discs, especially three, don't even get out of bed and here I was doing...It was then that I had a spiritual epiphany, that despite my pain, my Heavenly Father quite literally had my back.  Even though I am not pain free, I am relatively free from the type of pain that I could have.  It could be worse if I didn't have Him in my life and I am so grateful for that!

Have you found gratitude through your trials?

 

In God We Trust

I absolutely love this and I love Hobby Lobby for sharing it today.  

May we always remember the intention of our Founders.

Happy 4th of July!

You can see the original here.  (Its much larger)