The River Of Life

Hello! For any of you who have been visiting and wondering where I am- I've been creating. The Lord has me in an artistic mode. The River of LIFE is still flowing out of me- just not here. I'm leaving this blog open because ya never know which way that River will turn.

Happy New Year!

Did you make any resolutions?

I didn't.

I never have.

I know that apart from the Father, I can do nothing.

So, I just watch and see what He wants to do.

Does that sound lazy?

I hope not.

He Was Born

He was born
So He could die
That He might live
In you and me

I celebrate the birth of Jesus all year long and I celebrate His life, death and resurrection year round too. But what then? What about now?
Let's celebrate the coming of His Spirit as well.
His Spirit in us- now!

Second Childhood!

The Lord has granted me a second childhood!

No worries presently cloud my day because

any troubles will be tended to by my Dad.

Life is good and I'm looking for the next opportunity to play.

I'm happy, Innocent and full of fun!

Thank you, Lord, for this gift.

Forgiveness

Do you have a difficult time believing that God has forgiven you?
Maybe it will help if you remember this:
He's asked us to forgive our enemies.
Wouldn't He do the same?
I hope you have an amazing day!

He's The Glory And The Lifter Of My Head!

Bless the Lord, oh my soul and all that is within me!

Bless His holy name!

My soul does magnify the Lord!

My spirit rejoices in God my Savior!

Will you rejoice with me today?
Ya know, even if *you* can't rejoice today,
He's still with you and He understands.
Feel His love today!
He's there!

Feeling Better!

Thanks to all who have prayed for me!
I've felt better for two whole days in a row now!!!
Thank you, Lord!

Down In The Valley

Wow, It seems like the main topic this month has been sickness!
I feel bad for those of you who might be coming here and looking for encouragement!
Oops! wrong blog! ;>
Ha!
This hasn't been an terribly taxing time for me but it has been draaaaining.
In the past, some of my most encouraging writings have flowed from my own extreme trials in life but right now, I just feel REALLY dull and weary and words just aren't showing up! So until they do, this might be a good time to dig through the archives or move on to a more uplifting blog. :>
I welcome your comments and emails and I cherish your friendship.
~ Hearts ~

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends!

But my friends in other nations can be thankful today, too!

Right?!

I must admit that thankfulness has not come as easy in the last week.

But in the night, when I awake for the umpteenth time, thanksgiving *is* found flowing easily from my heart.

You see, then my mind is out of the way and my spirit always knows how good life really is- no matter what.

Since I'm still feeling pretty weak with a bad cold, my husband and little boy want to cook most of our feast today.

I'll sit in a kitchen chair and give directions.

Should be interesting!

May you all be cultivated, rooted and grounded in love today!

~ Hearts ~

Help!

Yesterday, I was feeling a bit blue from lack of sunshine.
I woke up this morning with this Beatles song on my mind.
I grew up with this song but I haven't heard it recently- I guess my heart had though!



HELP!
HELP! I NEED SOMEBODY,
HELP! NOT JUST ANYBODY,
HELP! YOU KNOW I NEED SOMEONE, HELP.

WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, SO MUCH YOUNGER THAN TODAY,
I NEVER NEEDED ANY BODY'S HELP IN ANY WAY.
BUT NOW THOSE DAYS ARE GONE, AND I'M NOT SO SELF ASSURED,
NOW I FIND, I'VE CHANGED MY MIND, I'VE OPENED UP THE DOORS.

HELP ME IF YOU CAN, I'M FEELING DOWN
AND I DO APPRECIATE YOU BEING AROUND.
HELP ME GET MY FEET BACK ON THE GROUND,
WON'T YOU PLEASE, PLEASE HELP ME.

AND NOW MY LIFE HAS CHANGED IN OH SO MANY WAYS,
MY INDEPENDENCE SEEMS TO VANISH IN THE HAZE.
BUT EVERY NOW AND THEN I FEEL SO INSECURE,
I KNOW THAT I JUST NEED YOU LIKE I'VE NEVER DONE BEFORE.

HELP ME IF YOU CAN, I'M FEELING DOWN
AND I DO APPRECIATE YOU BEING AROUND.
HELP ME GET MY FEET BACK ON THE GROUND,
WON'T YOU PLEASE, PLEASE HELP ME.

WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, SO MUCH YOUNGER THAN TODAY,
I NEVER NEEDED ANY BODY'S HELP IN ANY WAY.
BUT NOW THESE DAYS ARE GONE, I'M NOT SO SELF ASSURED,
NOW I FIND I'VE CHANGED MY MIND I'VE OPENED UP THE DOORS.

HELP ME IF YOU CAN, I'M FEELING DOWN
AND I DO APPRECIATE YOU BEING ROUND.
HELP ME, GET MY FEET BACK ON THE GROUND,
WON'T YOU PLEASE,
PLEASE HELP ME,
HELP ME,
HELP ME, OH.

This Is The Day

It's a new day!
Forget about yesterday.
Forget about yourself.
Just enjoy the Lord and the day that He has made.

First Snow!

We had our first snow last night!!!
(I'm looking at it through the eyes of a child!)
Never mind that it's cold, wet and dangerous!
It's pretty and it's FUN!
Thank you, Lord.
I'm going sledding today!
:>
AND I'm going to roast marshmallows over my wood stove.

May you be blessed with youthful sight this morning, too.
Life is so much more fun that way.

~ Hearts ~

Mountain Climbing

I wanted to show you a photo of the small mountain that I climbed recently.

This is Pearis mountain and it can be seen from my house.

(But that is not my house in the picture!)

I love to watch the seasons change on this mountain.

This photo was obviously taken in early Spring because the mountain isn't green yet.

When I climbed it, it was yellow with the last of the Fall leaves.

The famous Appalachian trail runs over Pearis mountain so now I can say that I have hiked on the Appalachian Trail.

It's fun to imagine hiking the whole trail someday.

But that's likely to remain an imagination!

I didn't gain any real spiritual insight from this hike but I did gain a practical one:

DON'T go mountain climbing shortly after recovering from the flu or you're likely to have a relapse!

:>

Have a great day everyone!

Scriptures Located In The Side Bar

If you are a frequent visitor here,

have you ever read through the scriptures I have copied in the side bar?

I had so much fun talking to the Lord as I chose which verses to put there.

There is a story told there.

A wonderful story!

But now wait, please don't allow any thoughts that condemn.

Please don't say, "Oh, I guess I really should read those some time."

I do not believe that all of scripture speaks to all people at all times.

I believe there are seasons- for everything.

If the Lord is not speaking to you through those scriptures,

then they are mere marks on a screen.

The Lord does like to speak to us in many ways, but to my surprise,

I have found that there are times that He wants to be quiet.

If anyone has a right to be quiet- It's HIM!

I once thought that if God was quiet, He must be mad at me!

I also thought that if He was speaking, then I must really be doing something right!

Ha-ha!

Thank God for deliverance from SELF!

Thank God for deliverance from DOING!

And thank God for YOU!

Thanks for coming by.

Relief

Isn't relief one of the best feelings?!
Last night as I was preparing for bed, I felt normal.
Normal!
What a relief!
Good ole relief...
It has a way of wiping away the previous bad
and setting all to rights again.
Thanks to all who prayed for me and visited me.
I felt your love.

If you're still waiting for relief to come to your little world-
hang in there, friends!
All will be right again.
I'm praying for you.

Pray For Me?

I sure have been learning some lessons in perseverance lately!

I've been reminded that there's never a good enough reason to give in to discouragement. Not even a fever- for the second time in the last month.

No! I'll never like a fever but I also shall never be friends with discouragement!

G-r-r-r-r-r!

Discouragement is a liar!

It threatens to steal my joy and thankfulness.

It leads me down the path of self- pity.

Ewwww....

It's dark and lonely down that path.

Forget it!

Healing will come.

Energy will return.

I have a family that loves me.

Friends surround me.

And I have my Lord as my Champion!

He's ever here- cheering me on!

What's there to be discouraged about?

Nothing!

But in the meantime- could you pray for me?

Thanks.

First Prayer

Do you remember your first prayer?
I do, I was in the third grade.
My prayer was simple and repetitive.
"Oh God, please don't let the teacher call on me!
Please don't let the teacher call on me!!!"

You see, the teacher was calling on students to go up to the board and work out math problems.
I didn't have a clue how to do them.
I had already been spanked in school the year before for not having a clue,
so I was really scared.
That's where my memory ends...

I still don't have a clue about a lot of things- including math.
I'm also still pretty simple in my prayers.
But I do know that God hears my cry and He hears yours, too.

Prayer For A New Day

Does anyone want to pray with me? Father, please help me to think positive about this day... Help me to see how much I can love others. My flesh wants to focus on how much I can get done. But In my spirit, I want you to change what I want. Teach me how to walk after the spirit. Change my heart oh, God.

This is a good day.

Who Am I?

That's what I'd like to know!

Who are you?

Do you know?

Does it matter?

I know who I am in Christ but who has God made Holly to be?

Am I being true to myself?

Am I pretending in any way?

I don't think so.

We all hear about people who are real.

I'd like to think that I'm real but maybe I'm not.

Am I really supposed to be writing?

Does it matter?

Do you care?

Do I care?

I think I do.

Do you ever ask yourself these types of questions?

I certainly don't have all the answers-

but I know the One who does!

And He answers them according to His will.

Too Small

Ha-ha! Now the photos are turning out too small!

Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha!

This has been a bit of a techno trial for me!

I've been loading photos here for a couple of years

and now all of the sudden I'm filled with duh.

Please bear with me while I endure. :>

Hopefully I can have our photos turn out in our preferred size before long.

Onward!