PEACE...

This morning at my kitchen table...my heart prays for some that are taking journey's that they have no map and are saying where the hell am I going and how did I get here?   I too am on that journey as I suppose we all are in one form or the other...Many that I pray for are very private...and so I do not go in details but I ask for PRAYER!

I am still working on Power Thoughts and I am still trapped in the chapter on FEAR and perhaps it is because that is where I need to be right now.   This morning I read from Power Thought by Joyce Meyers...

“Destinies are destroyed because of fear—fear of pain, fear of discomfort, fear of lack, fear of sacrifice, fear that life is going to be too hard, fear of losing friends, fear of being alone, fear of losing your reputation, fear that no one will understand you, fear that you’re missing God, and on and on.  Fear is the enemy’s perversion of faith.  He says, “Believe what I’m telling you.  This is not going to work.  Your prayers aren’t any good.  You don’t have right standing with God.  You are a failure.”

And I think of fear...how it can consume us in so many ways and I realize that there is a battle going on as fear I feel is a tool of the darkness...amongst worry...regret...hate...a pretty powerful tool box.  This morning as I felt such emotion and feeling for one special family...I began to pray for PEACE...that peace would overtake this darkness of fear!   No I do not know what the future holds but I pray that peace will be a part of our lives...FAITH...it takes a seed...and I am right there in the camp of fear...worry...BUT and that is a damn BIG BUT...we must...and I search for verses on fear...I come upon a link that has 500 and I am sure that is not all of them...but I turn to one of my favorite chapters...perhaps for many reasons and it comes as  a prayer...

 

And so I ask that you join me in praying...putting on the "Armor" that fear might be removed...pray for strength...pray for peace...that not  just one instance...but for so many of us that battle fears...we have been called to pray I feel...if this touches upon you...then perhaps you have too...

lyp

 

 

Veteran's Day...

I notice many taking time to post a flag...to honor those who have served our country...and I think about Veterans Day...not just a day off from work for me...it really should be more...this morning at my kitchen table I write...

"And the washing machines stops it’s loud chatter and I have this place to myself…to complete silence…to listen…let me hear what You have for me…let me meditate in Thy Light…in Thy Presence.   This day is but a gift…let me stop and think of those who serve our country…let me pray for our country…do not let me abandon faith…there were men and women who have gave so much…their lives…their time…their sacrifice.   There are mama’s without babies…father’s without sons…children without daddy's and momma's...we romanticize at times country…but are we willing to actually willing to go the extra…do we stop and give thanks?   Do we pray for those that are willing?   We are so blessed to have all that we have…yet we take it for granted…and then will wonder how it all disappeared."

I think on this and realize I don't even have my flag out and so as I go to hang it out...I realize that it is a beautiful light and so I go to take a pic...and I return to my table and start to create Day 11 Thanks...I am working on doing the 30 days of thankfulness...putting up a picture from the day...and as I have tried to put a scripture that comes to me for each of the pics...the one that continues to come...

"Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends."  John 15:13  

And I confess that this verse reminds me of another "soldier"...no not in the military or armed forces in the traditional sense...but a soldier all the same...I think of those that walk and protect our streets every day within our own country...in wars that we do not even want to know exist!   I am thankful for the soldiers on foreign territory...but I am also thankful for those that fight each day on our own  home soil...This verse says for his friends...but our veterans...our soldiers...do this for not only friends...but for those they do not know...for children not yet born...

I do not romanticize...WAR IS UGLY and it is HELL!   It is not something that I wish anyone had to endure...but I am thankful for those who are willing to have walked this walk...I look back at the picture and think because of those willing to sacrifice...I can have a home...I can park my rear in that old rocking chair and read God's precious Word...or just sit and appreciate the freedom's I am allowed!  

So I say thank you...to those who have gone before...to those who continue to fight...I read the declaration for Veteran's day...

The United States Congress officially recognized the end of World War I when it passed a concurrent resolution on June 4, 1926, with these words:

Whereas the 11th of November 1918, marked the cessation of the most destructive, sanguinary, and far reaching war in human annals and the resumption by the people of the United States of peaceful relations with other nations, which we hope may never again be severed, and
Whereas it is fitting that the recurring anniversary of this date should be commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations; and
Whereas the legislatures of twenty-seven of our States have already declared November 11 to be a legal holiday: Therefore be it Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), that the President of the United States is requested to issue a proclamation calling upon the officials to display the flag of the United States on all Government buildings on November 11 and inviting the people of the United States to observe the day in schools and churches, or other suitable places, with appropriate ceremonies of friendly relations with all other peoples.

So may we stop and give thanks for this day...this Veteran's day!   God bless America!

lyp

Libby's Sunset

This morning I read a post by my cousin's daughter...so I suppose that makes her my cousin removed or some such thing...she is family...and Brenda represents family to me in a special way.   She talks of her sister-in-law Libby who left way too young...leaving behind a husband and two precious babies...Brenda posted...

"Day 7 November 7......Today I am thankful for kids. Not only my kids but all my nieces and nephews as well! The young minds remind us daily what life is about when we adults are so busy! In particular today Bradley and Angelina! Four years ago today they lost their mother! What an amazing mother she was! She definitely lives on through these two! I know she is so proud of Dallas and all the hard work he puts in to take care of these kiddos! I definitely know without a doubt she watches over them! "I learned that family is important and to treasure each day you have together because you never know what will happen". ---Bradley Hoyle"

 

With it she posted the song...Somewhere over the Rainbow by Iz...I have always loved this song and I remember watching a video made by another sister Kristy that though I did not know Libby I saw a glimpse into an amazing woman and mother...

 

 

So this had been in my thoughts and then tonight some of you may have seen it...an AMAZING SUNSET...and so you know me I went and caught some pictures and was taken in by the moon (which reminds me whenever I see it night or day...of the verse in Jeremiah 29:13--And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.")  and just the beauty of the sunset seemed to take my breath away...and so I went in to finish up working and as I have maybe said before...my Pandora is set pretty random but just as I had went in...the above song came on...and I just felt a connection almost.   And I thought perhaps that was Libby's sunset...a gift from God to her family that said...I love you!

 

And so I post this picture in here though it may not capture the amazingness of the view...I share it with Brenda...a sister...an aunt...who chose to move across the country to love her brother and his children...to honor her "sister" Libby and continue to share love with others...and so I put on this pic...my favorite verse...and for this family my prayer is that faith, hope, and love will continue to abide in them.   Love across country...and love across boundaries that we may not understand!

 

 

 lyp