As a world, we are in uncharted waters. Our hearts break for the loss of life and the stories of suffering and pain. Do not give up hope, there is light in this darkness and God’s love is all around

I think my tears have come to stay,

They flow like rivers day by day.

Stories of grief and of loss and of pain,

Like riding the engine of a run away train.

Heartbreak and death are all around,

The world cries out with a crushing sound.

But dispair cannot have it’s way,

God sends glimmers of light each and every day.

The warmth of the sun on your skin,

The song of birds as the new day begins.

The chatter of frogs, the hoot of an owl,

Butterflies that float and weave and bow.

The wind gently blowing the new spring flowers,

I could soak up the beauty for hours and hours.

So if the trouble around threatens to sweep you away,

Experience God’s glory and take time to pray.

In today’s world where division, hate and violence fill the headlines, it is easy to give up hope for a better and brighter world. Do not dispair.

My hope lies in things I cannot see,

My hope lies in the God who watches over me.

I know that one day things will be right,

That man will bow before his righteous might.

I know the evil that lies deep in man’s heart,

Will one day loose it’s grip on humanity and depart.

I believe justice and integrity will find a way,

Goodness and love will shine bright one day.

God is merciful, just and right,

And he stands beside us in our fight.

Guard your heart against the devil’s crafty way,

Don’t listen to the things that he will say.

Righteousness from above is the shining light,

In God’s time and place, all will be made right.

Children are our most precious gift but so many are living in hunger, pain and loneliness. We need to be their voice, we need to hold our leaders accountable, we need to speak up.

They sit alone in darkness and fear,

Their cries fall on man’s deaf ear.

The loneliness and pain sweeps them away,

They have no voice, nothing to say.

Children go without food every day,

Hungry and sad because their parents can’t pay

Children locked up far from family and home,

No comfort, no hope, all alone.

Children who are homeless, no bed of their own,

A world that says, just leave me alone.

In war torn countries far away,

Their misery goes on day by day.

We march in the streets for the unborn children,

But outrage for the forgotten, one in a million.

What does it say about our Christian love?

What does God see as he looks down from above.

So as you snuggle in your warm bed tonight,

Remember these children and fight to make it right.

Looking back at this last decade and understanding that life is a journey -always changing, always evolving.

REFLECTIONS

Looking back at the years gone by,

Remembering the laughter and the things that made me cry.

I’ve said goodbye to some friends that I knew,

And opened the door to many who are new.

Life has taught me lessons that are hard to forget,

And assured me there are more I haven’t learned yet.

Life’s journey is full of highs and lows,

There will always be good and evil, friends and foes.

As we welcome in a brand new year,

Cherish in your heart the ones you hold dear.

Take time each day to thank God above,

For the blessings he pours down from his love.

Keep hope, love and faith by your side,

And enjoy this amazing, wonderful ride.

My top 12 lessons of the last decade.

1. People are not always what they seem.

2. The valuable things in life cannot be bought.

3. You cannot help someone who doesn’t want help.

4. God puts the right people in your path at just the right time.

5. Removing toxic people and things from your life reduces stress.

6. Exercise is the key to remaining healthy.

7. You can survive hard times.

8. Growing spiritually requires time, reflection and quiet.

9. Too much news and social media is detrimental to your health.

10. Worry changes nothing

11. You cannot control what happens, you can only control how you respond.

12. My faith has taught me that I am never alone, never forgotten and that things always work out in the end.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

During this time of family, friends and traditions, I hope we all take some time to reflect on the true spirit of Christmas-love for one another.

Christmas Wishes

The tinsel and lights are sparkling on the tree,

The packages are wrapped for all to see.

But Christmas is about so much more,

Than ornaments and gifts bought at a store.

A tiny baby was born to show love,

A gift from the Savior up above.

My Christmas wish for all this year,

Is a heart filled with love and a spirit of cheer.

That no child will be cold, hungry or alone,

And any who have harmed them will soon be know.

That we will care for the beautiful earth God gave,

Animals, trees and plants we’ll all fight to save.

That bitterness and anger will be things of the past,

And man will find peace in his soul that will last.

Remember the homeless, the sick and the old,

Let your light in the world shine bright and bold.

Merry Christmas to all

I sit and stare at the empty chair,

Your smiling face is no longer there.

Angel wings called you home

You left me here all alone.

Your memory is strong deep in my heart

And one day I know, we’ll no longer be apart.

Remembering those who are no longer with us and feelingblessed by their memory

Happy Thanksgiving.

Let go of all the hurt and pain,

Of all the tears that have fallen like rain.

Let go of the mistakes that have brought you shame,

The sting they inflict should not remain.

God’s plan is laid out in front of you,

Hold onto his hand, he’ll carry you through.

Following my surgery four months ago, I have been rebuilding my strength and stamina. During this time I have also been taking a critical look at my life, searching for more inner peace and joy and deciding to let go of anything surrounding me which has been weighing me down and holding me back.

I started with my home and have been sytematically getting rid of possessions which I no longer use, no longer wear and no longer need. I am not sure why we collect so much stuff but the the more we have, the more those possessions control our lives. There is a freedom which comes from letting go of the stuff of the world.

Next I moved on to the influences I have let into my life. This was an eye opening moment. Connecting with people through social media has always been great but I have discovered that much of what I see is negative, hurtful, angry and divisive. I don’t think we realize how easy it becomes to get sucked into the quicksand of this negativity. For this reason, I have severly limited my exposure and have muted friends from my timeline who engage in posting negative comments. I only seek out positive and uplifting words. There is enough ugly in the world and on the news, I don’t want a constant diet of it.

The hardest part of this journey has been coming to terms with certain relationships in my life. I had to accept the fact that I can’t help someone who doesn’t want it, I can’t fix what is broken and I have to walk away from people who really don’t want to be part of my life. I cannot continue to ride the roller coaster of other people’s drama without it harming my physical and mental health. I will concentrate on the solid bonds I have and pray for the others. God will sort it out, I am at peace.

I am moving forward with a message of love and acceptance, grateful for all of my blessings and hopeful for the future. I hope you will all take a few moments to let go of those things which are holding you back and stealing your joy . God bless you all with a life of contentment, peace, joy and happiness.

The last 2 months have been a test of my physical, emotional, mental and spiritual well being. No matter how hard the road we travel, there is always light at the end. Keep the faith.

Climbing from Despair

When the path is impassable and the road is dark,

When you’ve lost your way and there is no spark,

When your strength is gone and your will is broken,

You are in pain and full of emotion,

A quiet place you must find.

To restore your faith and peace of mind.

Call out to God, he’ll answer your prayer,

He’ll grab your hand and pull you from despair.

We all have times of doubt and fear,

But never forget, God is always near.

As I prepare for surgery tomorrow, this is the last leg of a journey I began 5 years ago. I have traveled through the deepest, darkest valley and an looking forward to my next mountaintop experience.  Keep me  in your prayers.

 

Life’s Journey

The journey of life is  a winding road,

Sometimes our steps are quick. sometimes slowed.

We cannot see what’s around the next bend,

We can only see where we have been.

We  soar on mountaintops oh so high,

On eagles wings we fly to the sky.

But then we fall into a valley so deep,

The way is dark and we crumble in a heap.

We find ourselves blindsided by things out of our control,

Testing our faith and the condition of our soul.

We search for a light that shines in the dark.

A tiny glimmer, a little spark.

God sends his angels to light the way,

The chase the fear and the devil away.

No matter the trouble or the pain,

God will always guide us to the straight path again,

His strength will carry us when we cannot walk,

He’ll open the door whenever we knock.

We need not tremble, we are not alone,

He is always there to guide us home.

 

 

Life’s journey can be a harsh, painful ride. Friends and loved ones abandon and disappoint us, the news is a constant emotional drain and stress can rob us of our peace and health. Isn’t it nice to know that we do not walk alone?

YOU HOLD MY HAND

I have shed a million tears,

Fought off all the devil’s fears.

I’ve been disappointed and let down,

Came close to a total breakdown.

I’ve known loss and I’ve known pain,

Been battered by life’s pouring rain.

But through it all, you’ve held my hand,

You held me up when I couldn’t stand.

You wrapped your arms around me tight,

And held me through the lonely night.

Without you God by my side,

My heart and soul would surely have died,

I can face what tomorrow brings,

Assured that your hand is over all things.