27 March 2024 Understand

What is hard for people to understand? I would say mental illness. When someone has a broken bone you see a cast and know what’s going on that isn’t the case with a broken mind. A person can look and seem perfectly “normal” and then out of the blue due something erratic and out of character. This is the way of suicides and murder. The “why” question is so prevalent in these cases.

Proverbs 2:3-6New International Version

indeed, if you call out for insight
    and cry aloud for understanding,
and if you look for it as for silver
    and search for it as for hidden treasure,
then you will understand the fear of the Lord
    and find the knowledge of God.
For the Lord gives wisdom;
    from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

25 March 2024 Saying No

How often do you say “no” to things that would interfere with your goals?

Something that has gotten easier as I’ve gotten older is saying no. I used to say yes all the time and would get a resentment as a result. I felt like I had to say yes or I was a bad person. Now I realize that it doesn’t make me a bad person to say no sometimes especially if it’s not in my best interest. Sometimes no is the right answer – a catalyst for something else better to happen. An example is my ex brother in law asked my ex and I to come to Florida to a Ozz fest and I said I didn’t want to go. Well we didn’t go and he ended up meeting his future wife! Spending too much time making a decision means usually the answer is no for now – “too many mind.”

Matthew 5:37New International Version

37 All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’;anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

21 March 2024 More

What do you wish you could do more every day?

I wish I had more stamina and energy to do more exercise each day. I need to lose weight!

Ephesians 3:20-21New International Version

20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen

19 March 2024 Resilient

What is one word that describes you?

One word that describes me is resilient. Despite all the difficulties I have faced in my life I have been able to bounce back from most of them. I think God has been walking with me through most of the trials! We get shaped and sculpted into who he wants us to be during trials just as much as through tribulations.

James 1:2-4 (NIV) – “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

17 March 2024 Cross Country Trip

You’re going on a cross-country trip. Airplane, train, bus, car, or bike?

Today is a beautiful day. The skies have been full of geese and that has been amazing! Like watching angels fill the sky.

It’s a toss up between taking an airplane or a car to make a cross country trip. The last trip I made was via pick up truck with my cousins wife. We drove from Texas to Idaho and it was a long trip. It’s hard to believe it’s been almost 4 years! We drove right through Covid and when it was a scary time to travel. I am so grateful to have been traveling with such experienced travelers. It’s been several years since I’ve been on an airplane – can’t even remember what year it was!

Luke 9 :: NIV. and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He told them: “Take nothing for the journey–no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra tunic. Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town.

12 March 2024 Superstitious

Are you superstitious?

I don’t think I’ve ever been superstitious. Like having a lucky item or piece of clothing. I kind of had a thing about Friday the 13th for a time until my birthday was on that date and other people I know and love had it too. It wasn’t something to fear but something to celebrate.

Matthew 17:20New International Version

20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move.Nothing will be impossible for you.”

6 March 2024 Question

What is one question you hate to be asked? Explain.

I don’t really have a question I hate to be asked. I am really an open book about most things. Almost to a fault I am open about myself.

Matthew 28:19-20New International Version

19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with youalways, to the very end of the age.”

2 March 2024 Experiences

What experiences in life helped you grow the most?

I think the experiences I have learned and grown the most from have been adversities. When life is easy and care free I can get settled in my ways. Working through adversity requires critical thinking sometimes. Thinking outside the box – the norm.

Romans 8:28New International Version

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose.

4 Feb 2024 Time

How do significant life events or the passage of time influence your perspective on life?

In my experience the best healer of the wounds of life is time. The further I get along beyond a significant event that has happened the less it hurts. There is no cure for grief but time. My cocker spaniel Sam taught me this after his passing. It took 3 years and getting another dog to get some relief from my grief over Sam’s passing. When we lost Sam we realized nothing of this world could fill the void inside- no food, no drink, no material possessions could heal the pain.

James 4:14New International Version

14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

5 Jan 2024 Vivid Dream

Last night I had a vivid dream like I haven’t had in a long time. I dreamt of falling asleep in a dark room and then all the sudden the light coming on. The light switch had been flipped on and no one but me was in the room. I went and told my mom Dianne about it in the dream. I startled awake from this dream as it was so vivid! I couldn’t really fall back asleep.

Genesis 40:8New International Version

“We both had dreams,” they answered, “but there is no one to interpret them.”

Then Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.”