Time Continuum

Tags

Christian, Compassion, faith, future, Goals, inner strength, Inspiration, Jesus Christ, love, Motivation, self renewal, Women

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: … He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.” ~ Ecclesiastes 3:1, 11

My love and I were reflecting upon events of the day and this whole time thing came racing back to my mind. I pondered the prayer request of a loved one who has been ill for a while, the mean twists of life, the end of the year, the beginning of the year. Suddenly it dawned on me that we put so much into crossing into a new year through the great door, gate, journey-way, portal, or threshold into the commencement of some new phase or periphery of time when in actuality it is a continuum. The next step, the new frontier of life is a perpetuity of our existence.

Time doesn’t stop, it doesn’t change, it continues. The change, the new beginning  must be in each of us. My life will only be any different in the new year as I am prepared to make it. If I remain the same, most things about me will remain the same. If my mind is not transformed, if my behavior is not changed, if my faith is not increased, if my sense of self is not more purposeful, I will continue on the continuum of time, unchanged. Indeed, this new day, new moment, new mercy is also a new page or chapter, a new story or song, or new book in life.  One for an inward look, a makeover so to speak, a new chance (Ecclesiastes 9:11) to make it right or get it right. My mentor taught me, “Evidence of learning is changed behavior.” On this continuum from 2012-2013, what will be the evidence of learning? Asking God to make me better, I always resolve to BE BETTER in the new year. I will continue with that. *Q

2013 Blessings! Don’t miss the Beautiful.

This Unusual Anticipation

Tags

Apostolic, believe, Christian, dreams, Education, faith, Family, Fear, future, Goals, inner strength, Inspiration, Jesus Christ, love, Motivation, Personal Development, Prayer, Purpose, self renewal, Trusting God, Women

“Why are you cast down, O my soul? and why are you disturbed within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.” ~ Psalm 42:11

I’ve been anticipating the new year like never before in my memory.  Not sure why. 

I think of all the times we teach our young people to enjoy their youth, not to wish their life away.  How we’re always wishing for the weekend, the next special occasion or next season, but that we should not wish our lives away.  We should appreciate every millesecond of time, every tick on the clock of life, every God-given breath that allows us to live, move and have our being in Him. 

This year, 2012, has been a year of loss and great gain.  My Mother-in-Love went to Heaven in August, that loss has left an empty, unfillable space in our hearts and family circle.  As has the loss of my Mother in 2008 and other family members over the past eight years. The great gain though is that I finished my undergraduate degree, our precious granddaughter, Astrid Emilie, was born, and I celebrated a milestone birthday this year which are immeasurable blessings from God.

As I approach this journeyway into the new year, I have an introspection that is somewhat unfamiliar.  A feeling of abandoning something in the old, while anticipating so greatly the ‘new’ of the new.  I have goals and dreams for the new year, they hold great promise for my life and the love of my life … I pray God allows them to be.  So, I wrestle incessantly to defeat the fear of life’s mean twists so that I may wear the banner of courage and faith as a cloak of honor when I reverently worship before the throne of my Father.

Therefore, with my hand and my life in His hand, while taking these final steps in 2012, I remain steadfastly confident in my God whose purpose for me is greater than I could ever imagine for myself.  And when the pendulum of the clock snaps over to 12:01 to begin 2013, I will bow my head and my heart to whisper a prayer to say, “Thank You, God”, for the old and for the new.

2013 Blessings … Don’t miss the Beautiful!

Go Phyllis, It’s Your Birthday

Tags

celebration, Christian, dining, faith, food, Women

Happy Birthday to me!
J Alexander’s is one of my favorite restaurants. So I decided to enjoy my birthday dinner here tonight. It is buzzing with holiday cheer in here, big parties of ‘shirts’ (corporates), families, lovers and friends breaking bread.  For me J Alex never disappoints. My server recommended the Carolina Crab Cakes, I’m glad I followed her lead. They are succulently delicious, giving a whole new meaning to ‘lump’ crab. “Coastal recipe. Jumbo lump crab meat, chili mayonnaise and Dijon mustard sauce to cut the spice. I also love J Alex’ Kumato Tomatoes, so I chose those as a side. Sliced half, drizzled with olive oil and garnished with Kosher salt and fresh black pepper … they are vibrant, fresh and sooooo delicious.

I think I hear Charlie Brown’s Christmas over the noise of the bar crowd and nearby conversation. I must pull out my CD when I get home.

Then the most awesome thing happened. I’m dining alone because well I had a huge celebration, two as a matter of fact, over the weekend and my family are all committed to work or ministry this evening.

It turns out the ladies at the table across from me were also celebrating a birthday. When my server brought my Carrot Cake with a single candle, they offered to come over and sing Happy Birthday to their friend, Kathy, and me … How cool and amiable is that? Tara my server was so sweet too, she said, “I love birthdays, I want to make sure everyone has a happy birthday.”

God is always pouring His love out. I’m smiling down deep to my bones.

Flow To You

Tags

Anointing, Apostolic, Christian, faith, Holiness, Pentecostal, self renewal, Women, worship

Flow to you, Flow to you. Let the river of my worship flow to you. Lord, I pray in all I do. Let the river of my worship, flow to you Lord. Like streams in the valley, they swell with the rain. Let the songs of my heart, let them rise to bless your name & Flow to you, Flow to you, Lord let my worship flow to You.

This worship anthem has been an earworm in my spirit for several weeks. I reflect upon the worship moment. We were in a Worship Service designed for souls to come to Christ, to receive His Spirit. After our Pastor imparted the Word of God, souls seeking God came to the altar, others along with myself on one accord as in that ancient upper room, began to cry out to God, travailing for the birth of souls. The song leaders began the worship … Flow to You.

I was enraptured in the worship, it was pure, reverent, and expecting. It was a place of habitation for God to come in and dwell for a while … it was a secret place dwelling. It was a place, an encounter of surrender to the holiness of my loving Father, my inner most being yearning for Him ~ Jesus, for His touch, for His visitation, for His abiding presence. A glory cloud filled the Temple, souls began to receive Him, their souls uttered His heavenly language, the evidence of His presence, of His essence filled them and me.

Lord, let my worship flow to You. Like the precious ointment upon the head, that runs down upon the garments, let my worship touch You.

Jesus, The LIGHT of the World

Tags

inner strength, Inspiration, Jesus Christ, love, miracle, Personal Growth, self renewal, Women

“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the LIGHT of the world: He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the LIGHT of life.” ~ John 8:12

Suddenly from the dark came a LIGHT that will never dim.
Jesus, the LIGHT of the world.

I first met him as a young girl, that is when I came to know His Light. It has illuminated my heart and life ever since. No matter when or where I’ve been in life, He, the Light, has never left my heart or my life. As I grew older and came to know Him more intimately, more personally, as the Savior of my life in the pardon and remission of my sin, His radiance only increased. He, the Light, has enlightened my faith, knowledge, human frailty, He has given brilliance to who I am and ever hope to be. He, the Light, has given me salvation, truth, promise and an eternal hope. He, the Light has directed me as a woman, wife, mother and grandmother, sister, friend. He, the Light has given life to the dark places of fear and despair, and has been a beacon, lighthouse far in the distance of uncertainty, anticipation and expectancy. He, the Light will never dim. Through shadows, blindspots, tunnels, clouds and storms, He, the Light will never dim. Through nightmares, grief, the blackness of the darkest night, He, the Light will never dim.

He, the Light, is love, comfort, peace and joy. He is everything we need and so much more. He, the Light, glosses our lives with spiritual healing, nourishment, and constancy to endure, emerge, and triumph.

He, the LIGHT, will never dim.
Jesus, the LIGHT of the world.

Something About Me

Tags

future, inner strength, Inspiration, love, mentors, Motivation, Overcoming, Personal Development, Personal Growth, self development, self renewal, teachers, Women

Interesting thing about me …

I just pulled some old clippings and personal notes from a desk drawer.

I’ve been collecting inspirational writings and quotes, scriptures, prayers, notes and nuggets all of my life it seems. Always feeding my spirit, soul, growth and development. Never fully sure or accepting of my own strength, ability or influence, but God has given me this tool that has sustained my own life and has also blessed others over the years. Often times when others are doing ‘big things’, in the forefront, celebrated, you wonder, ‘What have I done?” or lament, ‘I haven’t done anything.’ So thankful God safeguards people, reminders, memories, successes and victories to remind us of what He has done and that because of Him we have achieved more than we think or accept of yourselves.

“The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.” ~ Zephaniah 3:17

Everyone’s path, platform or realm of influence is not the same, that is why it is so important to bloom where you are planted, in the field or garden, on the windowsill or in the planter, in the basket or the terra cotta pot. The evidence of your seedlings come back to you in little love notes and appreciation cards and thinking of you messages. Thank You, God, for every keeper You have given to dress the vineyard of my life.

Rekindle The Season

Tags

Christmas, Compassion, Family, hope, Inspiration, Jesus Christ, loneliness, love, self renewal, worship

In the spirit of Five Minute Fridays (on sabbatical for December) which is a writing exercise when a community of bloggers (a true literary league of all-stars) write for five minutes on the same specific prompt – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking, and then share your post. I love the opportunity so much, I decided to write anyway.  Also inspired by a blogger’s comment that we could still write, maybe about words of the Christmas season, like star, wisemen, gift … I looked at my Starbucks cup and the sleeve said, “Rekindle the season”.

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. ~ Matthew 2:1-2

No matter what the circumstances, somehow through Christmas life is
rekindled, joy is renewed, and love is shared in abundance.
It is like we turn a corner and somehow through the window of Christmas
with its festive beauty of wonder and light
HOPE displaces despair,
COMPASSION displaces hatred, and
TOGETHERNESS displaces loneliness
Family rekindle traditions that have been stored away.
Friends rekindle relationships that have been distanced by time, space
or hurt. Strangers rekindle charity to those less fortunate.
The eternal flame of love ignited through the
Christ child rekindles goodwill in all of us.
We love because He first loved  us and gave Himself for us.
We give because He gave so freely that we may live.
We celebrate because He was born,  Savior of the whole world.

Rekindle the season …
O come let us adore Him
He is Christ the Lord *Q

What Will Become Of Your Dreams

Tags

Christian, destiny, dreams, Education, faith, Fear, future, Goals, Inspiration, Jesus Christ, Motivation, Overcoming, Parenting, self renewal, Women, Youth

Harlem Renassaince poet Langston Hughes said, “Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly.”  

Dreams, we simply cannot live without them.  Dreams are what give life to our living.  So we dream.  Imaginations and longings of the heart.  Fulfilled purpose or life goal.  Desires and hopes for children and loved ones.  A yearning to live our best life. 

Dreamers exclaim, ‘Dream, dream big.’ One advocate says, “Dreams are creative vision, your image of the future, the unimaginable things hidden in our hearts.” Dorothea Brande says, “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Act as though it were impossible to fail.” 

There are seasons in our lives when our dreams become bigger than life, longer than our days. Actualities of life seem to threaten our dreams.  Can I achieve my goal? Will I have the time, the resources, the courage, the support to realize my dream?  Seasons of life find us taking stock of the years we have lost, wasted, taken, given away.  Seasons of life find us asking the question, why didn’t I do this then or that way or better. Seasons of life find us with questions that have no relevant answers because it is a time gone by, that was then, this is now.  

Sometimes these late seasons find us fearful, anxious, unsure.  Mary Manin Morrissey says, “You block your dream when you allow your fear to grow bigger than your faith.  When we look at the obstacles, what ifs, mights and maybes that could hinder us from what dreams may come.  These are the times when our faith is blurred, but not removed.  Our faith becomes the unexpected gusts beneath our dreams.  The abrupt rush that lifts us to believe we can, to believe God can, to believe God in us can, to believe God with us undeniably can.

Seasons are cyclical, they come again.  God gives us new autumns and winters, springs and summers to realize our dreams.  So “Don’t be afraid of the space between your dreams and reality. If you can dream it, you can make it so.” ~ Belva Davis 

Never give up on your dreams.

With God, go confidently after them.