Lessons from the Desert

Frustratingly Me

2014-07-24T09:48:00.001-07:00

I have a problem.

"Only one?" you ask.

Ha.

Yes, well,

I have lots of problems

but one has been

frustrating me lately.

I have these blogs where

I want to write about

and share things,

every day things,

that people can relate to.

Yet,

I find that I walk

through the daily,

mundane things of life

on auto pilot

and at the end of the day,

when I try to recall something

I can write about,

I come up blank.

Through the course of the day

I will "check in"

on social and/or news media

to see what's going on

"out there"

and before I realize it's happening,

my thoughts focus in on one thing

and I spend the day mulling it over -

and over -

and over.

Then BAM!

The day is gone.

It's time for bed

and I have nothing

"relevant"

(so I've been told)

to share.

I am too much in my own head.

And lately,

it's frustrating.

I Have A New Blog

2014-06-06T07:03:00.000-07:00

For current posts,

visit my new blog!
www.livingrealdaily.blogspot.com

New voice,

new purpose,

new ramblings!

Free Will (?)

2014-05-14T07:30:00.000-07:00

If God, our Creator Father;

the giver of our very lives

has bestowed the gift of free will to

each and every one of us,

why do so many people spend so much time

and energy

finding ways to revoke that which

God has so graciously given?

Kindness

2014-03-13T08:27:00.004-07:00

And I think to myself,

what a wonderful world...

Beloved Child

2014-03-07T10:42:00.001-08:00

Whether you know it,

acknowlege it,

like it,

or care,

you are a child of God;

completely,

unconditionally,

eternally,

infinitely loved

by your Creator Father.

He loves you better

than anyone you know.

This is Good News!

New Revelation

2014-03-06T11:35:00.000-08:00

Every day that we choose to spend

in communication with God

is an opportunity for Him to reveal

a different aspect of Himself to us.

He is infinitely faceted

and as we choose to learn

more about Him,

He reveals that aspect of Himself

in us,

thus creating, faceting & revealing

the perfect version of ourselves

as we become more and more like Him.

This is Good News!

Every Day ~ Good News

2014-03-04T11:18:00.002-08:00

God's goodness isn't only for a select few.

He is good to ALL.

This is Good News!

God desires to have real, honest relationship

with every one of us.

He not only listens to us,

He answers!

He is the ultimate conversationalist!

This is Good News!

So,

converse now!

Simply Good

2014-02-20T08:05:00.003-08:00

Do you know?

Have you heard?

God loves you!

You are (already) His child!

You are (already) saved!

You (already) have full access

to Him, His throne & His kingdom.

This is Good news!

Jesus said, “Make disciples” - of Him, not ourselves.

Jesus said, “Share the Good News”.

Those of us who have realized the depth of

His great, abiding love are to

GO and SHARE it with others

so that they can realize it and

consciously live

within the realm of

His GREAT, ABIDING, UNCONDITIONAL LOVE!

God doesn’t need for us to “get people saved”

to “save souls” –

HE has already done it!

So simple.

So GOOD!

Hallelujah!

Jesus & Love (on another napkin!)

2014-02-10T06:30:00.000-08:00

Jesus didn’t come to save us “to God”,

rather He came to save us from ourselves;

from the idea that in order for God to love us,

we have to perform a certain way

or have to “become” something first.

Jesus says,

“Look, I have relationship with the Father.

I am showing you how to –

and how easy it is to -

have real relationship with the Father.

There is no need for sacrifices.

In fact, I’ve become the ultimate sacrifice

so you can stop feeling like you have to

keep “doing” something in order to

earn My love, favor, blessings, etc.

Stop striving and start “being”.

Be REAL with God.

He already knows you better than you know yourself

so RELAX!

I am with you.

I am for you.

So, stop beating yourself up

and stop judging and condemning others.

Instead, “put on love”.

Love God.

Love others.

It’s as SIMPLE as that!

LOVE.

It is a choice.”

Be loved,

and then,

LOVE!

KISS, KISS!

(Keep It Simple Sweetheart!)

God's Love (on a napkin!)

2014-02-09T08:49:00.000-08:00

Children approach their parents with questions all the time.

So, why do some insist that we aren’t allowed to question God?

Certainly, if you weren’t allowed to question your own parents while growing up,

you may view God as being unapproachable.

But just because you perceive

(or have been taught to believe)

He is unapproachable does not make it so.

God is very, 100%, approachable.

He says, “Come to Me.”

Never, has His intention been for us to be “separated” from Him.

Ever.

Jesus lived the example of relationship with Him

so that we could SEE that He desires relationship

with each and every one of us.

And contrary to popular “teaching”,

we don’t have to “become” anything

in order to have relationship with Him.

Jesus didn’t “become” something

and then have relationship with God.

Jesus came here, as a man –

in the same form as us

– as the Son of God (as are we ALL)

and exemplified a real and loving relationship with

the REAL and LOVING Father!

There aren’t any great secrets.

Jesus made it very clear and very SIMPLE.

The great question isn’t,

“Are you a Christian?”

The questions is,

“Do you believe?”

If we are “separated” from God,

it is because we choose to be separated from Him.

God is here all of the time (omnipresent).

He knows what we are thinking,

all of the time (omniscient).

We cannot hide from Him.

But we can choose to exclude Him.

He allows it.

Free will was given to us BY Him.

Because He loves us.

He is all-loving, all of the time.

And it is His very Love which draws us to Himself.

It isn’t our “job” to “get people saved”.

Rather, for those of us who have realized

the magnificence and DEPTH

of His GREAT and MIGHTY Love,

it is our “job”

to SHOUT it from the roof tops!

HE LOVES YOU!

From the depth of His very being

(which is INFINITE),

HE LOVES YOU!

You are not wretched.

You are not a mistake.

God doesn’t make mistakes.

You are LOVED!

And if you want to “feel” this Love;

want it to be real to you,

all you “have” to do is tell Him so,

then allow His love to wash over you.

It (His love) has been yours all along.

You have never been separated from His love;

you’ve simply not been experiencing His love (consciously)

because you have either not allowed it,

have been told you are not worthy of it,

or have been told you have to “become” something

in order to experience it.

NOT TRUE!

Embrace His LOVE now!

And the natural result will be your own heart

responding in Love

to Him!

HALLELUJAH!

God is so, so GOOD!

Amen!

Father God

2014-02-08T13:16:00.000-08:00

God is not angry, arrogant, unapproachable

or in a bad mood.

Yet, so many people view and portray Him as such.

They take their own shortcomings

and project them onto God.

Jesus said to let the little children come to Him.

He also said that in order to know Him,

we must become as little children.

Children whine, cry, throw tantrums

and ask questions.

Children also trust.

So, to the one who says we have no right to question God,

I say, why not?

In their attempt to understand things,

my children often ask questions.

And to the one who says we aren’t allowed to get frustrated

or angry (because it “displeases” God),

I say, why aren’t we?

In their growth and learning,

my children sometimes become frustrated or angry.

Yet through all the phases and stages of growing,

my children still trust me.

As little children, they trusted me implicitly.

As they have gotten older,

they have questioned some of my methods and reasoning,

but they still trust me.

Why?

Because I love them.

I love them completely and unconditionally.

I would never hurt them and

I always have their best interest in mind.

In their learning and growing

I have allowed them to be themselves while

encouraging them to learn who they really are.

And in the process,

my love for them has never changed

(or diminished).

Children will do what children will do.

And since God said for us to approach Him

as little children approach their parents,

it stands to reason that questioning Him

isn’t sinful, rebellious or prideful

like some people like to think.

God isn’t angry, arrogant, unapproachable

or in a bad mood.

Amazing, Loving, Father;

that’s who God is!

Body & Soul

2014-02-04T09:33:00.002-08:00

Are you

a body

with a soul?

Are you

a soul

with a body?

What you believe

about this

has a direct influence

on many of the other things

you believe.

And what you believe

greatly influences

how you live.

Pause for Reflection

2014-02-03T11:01:00.002-08:00

Follow up to

"Pause for Thought"

Does your

religion, denomination

or belief system

place bonds around people

that Jesus already said

we are free of?

Pause for Thought

2014-02-03T07:49:00.002-08:00

Jesus didn't come and show us

we are free from

religious bondage

just so

we could

find new ways

to bind one another up.

Farewell 2013, Hell-o 2014!

2013-12-31T11:23:00.000-08:00

This is my last blog post for 2013.

Not sure what direction it will take for 2014

but I look forward to what God

is going to do with it.

The camera's perspective of this last sunrise for 2013

didn't even begin to capture the reality and vibrance of the pink and purple sky.

Hoping that in 2014 the veil will fall from our eyes

and that we choose to see things through the

reality of God's perspective.

May 2014 be a year where we make informed decisions

rather than blindly following the masses.

In 2014 may we live without fear;

knowing that when God is with us,

there is nothing to fear.

Praying that 2014 is the year where kindness

becomes "the norm"

rather than a "random act".

Look to and rely upon God in 2014

instead of on the government.

Rather than focusing our energy on judging others,

may 2014 be the year we focus on changing ourselves

(for the better!)

Every day of 2014 remember;

with God, NOTHING is impossible.

Allow any anger from 2013 dissipate

and allow 2014 to be a year full of happiness!

We all have something to offer one another.

Allow others to learn from you

while you learn from them.

In 2014 share what you have

and don't worry about what you don't have.

Whatever you give to others will be returned to you,

pressed down, shaken and overflowing!

We are each a beautiful creation;

a child of God.

Be kind.

Be encouraging.

God is good, kind and generous ~

Expect GREAT things!

Make it a great year!!!

Mandela - A Legacy

2013-12-05T20:12:00.000-08:00

Isn't That Somethin'?

2013-12-04T09:54:00.000-08:00

I have known the Lord all of my life.

My earliest memories are from when I was about three years old

and all of the good memories are of the Lord.

For over forty years He has walked with me and talked with me.

He has taught me about Himself

and continually shows me myself.

Through my real and personal relationship

with Him,

He has taught me more than

all of the preachers, teachers, evangelists and theologians

ever could.

Why is this?

Because He deals with and interacts with me on a personal level.

He relates to me based upon my life experiences

and upon who I am.

He never changes,

but I do.

And as I change,

He reveals new aspects and facets of Himself.

No two relationships with Him look the same

because He has created us differently - individually.

We all learn, perceive and process differently

and because He knows us better than we know ourselves,

He interacts with us accordingly.

There are no molds to fill

or methods to follow.

Jesus is the clearest example of what relationship

with Him is.

Jesus said that the things He said and did

were the very same things He heard the Father

say and saw the Father do.

And He said that we could

(and should)

do likewise.

And everything that Jesus said and did

was Kind, Loving and Good

because God is

Kind, Loving and Good!

Isn't that somethin'?

Holidays & Traditions

2013-11-29T08:58:00.002-08:00

It's safe to say that the

Holiday Season

is officially upon us.

Some enter into it after

Labor Day,

Halloween or Thanksgiving,

and some on

Black Friday.

And in some cultures,

NONE of these even exist.

Some cultures focus on

and celebrate holidays like

Hannukah,

Ramadan,

and

Kwanzaa.

Some celebrate their holiday

as a mandate from God

and call all others evil.

But holidays are really about

human traditions.

Each holiday marks something

relevant and significant

to its culture.

So,

we can either spend our days

being offended by those who

believe and celebrate

differently than we do,

we can spend our days

being kind, encouraging and uplifting

to our fellow man.

Because,

like it or not,

the fact of the matter is,

we are ALL children of God.

He loves every single one of us

regardless of which holiday

we choose to celebrate.

And folks,

December 25

is not Jesus' birthday.

But if you choose to celebrate it as such,

that's okay.

And if not,

that's okay too!

So,

Everyone!!!

Thanksgiving

2013-11-28T09:33:00.001-08:00

Today serves as a reminder

that thankfulness is

a state of mind

~a way of life.

And for those who are feeling

stressed out

and pressured

because of what society has turned this day into,

I pray for Peace to cover you,

fill you,

and seep into your very being.

What Else My Mom Taught Me

2013-11-17T09:23:00.000-08:00

I couldn't let my mom's birthday go by

without writing something

in her honor.

As I have been thinking much about her lately

there are a couple of recurring things that come to mind.

One is that my mom was an extremely forgiving person.

She literally lived out,

"Forgive them seventy times seven,"

several times over.

She forgave many people of many things;

rudeness, meanness, pettiness, hurtfulness,

stupidity, cruelty, abuse, slander,

judgementalism...

the list goes on.

And she never seemed to hold a grudge.

Perhaps it was because in the back of her mind

she was well aware of the many things of which

God had forgiven her.

If she were here right now,

she would argue that she wasn't

as forigiving as I am making her out to be.

She would say that she didn't always "feel" forgiving.

But I know what I saw,

and what I saw, repeatedly, was

a woman who forgave.

Another thing about her that keeps coming to my thoughts

is how generous she was.

My goodness that woman was a giver!

I don't think anything brought her more joy than

giving to others.

Gifts on birthdays, holidays, and just because days;

a loan because you needed it

and then "forgiving" the loan

(you didn't have to pay it back);

donations for the needy, food for the poor;

compassion for those without compassion...

She gave whatever was needed whether she knew you or not.

And never was her generosity driven by selfishness.

She didn't give because she ever

expected anything in return.

She gave, simply, because she was

generous!

And always, in her heart,
was the desire to give more.

It's amazing that when I think about these things,

I see how easily she lived out these qualities

which are the very nature

of God.

Her example of

unconditional Love

overwhelms me.

And even though my mom and I

were different in many ways,

I am thankful

that we are also alike

in so many ways.

She was, truly,

an exceptional woman.

Happy Birthday mom!

I love you forever.

The Poor Dilemma

2013-11-15T07:29:00.003-08:00

It is interesting that Jesus said

to take care of the poor,

to offer a drink to those who are thirsty,

to feed those who are hungry,

and to give your coat to someone who is cold

(your shirt too if needed).

Yet, these days,

when people are presented with the needs of others,

they pause,

as if they've been presented with some great dilemma

and respond with words like,

"Let me pray about it and ask God if I am supposed to help".

But it seems pretty simple;

if we have been made aware of a need,

then we're supposed to help.
Period.

Down to Basics

2013-11-14T09:47:00.001-08:00

If we got down to the basics,

which Jesus said are

loving God and

loving others,

we would

~ Change the World.

Loving God, truly,

(with all of our soul, mind and strength)

brings about a NATURAL compulsion toward

grace, love, empathy and compassion;

which is loving others

(truly, as God does).

It becomes as natural as breathing.

If we lived out the Basics,

the world,

- humanity -

would be united

and, thus,

be known for its

Love.

Wasted Compassion

2013-11-08T10:39:00.000-08:00

Compassion without action

is meaningless waste of emotion.

God has implanted within us

the feeling of compassion

so we would be moved into action.

If someone is sad, I give them a smile;

if lonely, a hug, text message, phone call, card or visit;

if cold, a coat;

if hungry, a meal;

if broke, a dollar (or more);

if hopeless, Hope...

If a feeling of compassion fills my heart

and I do nothing to act upon it,

that compassion is

meaningless waste of emotion.

Waiting for Ice Cream

2013-10-24T19:09:00.000-07:00

One day a small child said to his mother,

“Mommy, I want some ice cream.”

“Alright, darling,” she replied.

Seeing that his mother was making no move toward getting his ice cream,

he asked sweetly,

“Mommy, may I please have some ice cream?”

“Yes, darling,” the mother smiled.

Seeing, still, that his mother made no move to attend to his ice cream,

the child glared,

“Mommy, when are you going to get me my ice cream?”

Turning to him, his mother replied,

“There is no ice cream right now, darling.”

Angrily, the child whined,

“Then why did you say that I could have some?”

“Because, love, when there is some ice cream,

you shall have some.”

After lunch the following day the child asked,

“Mommy, may I please have some ice cream?”

“Yes my love,” the mother replied.

“Today?” the child asked.

“No,” the mother replied, “there is no ice cream today.”

Disappointed, the child asked,

“Mommy, can we go and get some ice cream?”

“Not today,” the mother replied.

“When? When can we get some ice cream?” the child moaned.

“Soon, my love,” the mother crooned.

Resigned, the child sighed.

The child awoke the next day,

sure that it must be the day for ice cream.

“Mommy!” he gushed,

“Today must be the day we go and get ice cream!”

“No darling, not yet,” she soothed.

“But Mommy, why?!

Why can’t we get ice cream today?

I don’t understand!

You’re just mean!”

“Patience, my darling.”

Frustrated and angry, the child stormed off.

He didn’t understand why his mother said that he could have ice cream

if she had no intention of giving him any.

Why was she being so cruel?

Didn’t she love him?

One day after the child awoke from his afternoon nap

his mother loaded him into the car and drove

to the fanciest ice cream parlor he had ever seen.

Inside, in the middle of the room,

was a table decorated with confetti, streamers and balloons.

Above it hung a banner that said, “Happy Ice Cream Day!”

On the table was a dish

filled with his favorite flavor of ice cream,

topped with all of his favorite toppings.

He couldn’t believe his eyes.

He turned to his mother,

“Oh thank you Mommy!

Thank you!

You’re the best!”

********

Now, it would have been much easier

for both the mother and her child if she had,

on the first day he had asked,

simply gone to the store and bought some ice cream.

However, knowing the heart of her child,

long before he had even asked for ice cream,

the mother had planned this day.

Though buying ice cream right away

would have been simpler and instantly gratifying to her child,

the mother knew that doing so

would leave no lasting impression on her son.

But the memory of the surprise trip

to the ice cream shop would remain with him forever.

********

The Lord gave me this analogy nearly two years ago,

in the midst of my own waiting.

My Ice Cream Day has yet to come,

but when it does,

oh what a day it will be!!!

Control

2013-10-16T10:44:00.002-07:00

There is always one thing

that we have control over

and

the complete ability to change

~ourself.

If every person

would look inward

and

change one negative aspect

of their person

into something positive,

we would inadvertently change

the world.